11.014
Core and Pancharatra: In sprite of Bhima clarifying his acts against Duryodhana and Dushasana, Gandhari asks - "both of us are old and have lost our kingdom; how is it that even a single offspring has not been left for these two blind couple".
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या भीमसेनोऽथ भीतवत्। गान्धारीं प्रत्युवाचेदं वचः सानुनयं तदा ॥११-१४-१॥
When Bhīmasena heard her words, he, appearing frightened, then addressed Gāndhārī with conciliatory words.
अधर्मो यदि वा धर्मस्त्रासात्तत्र मया कृतः। आत्मानं त्रातुकामेन तन्मे त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥११-१४-२॥
If, out of fear and in the desire to protect myself, I have done either unrighteousness or righteousness there, you should forgive me for that.
न हि युद्धेन पुत्रस्ते धर्मेण स महाबलः। शक्यः केनचिदुद्यन्तुमतो विषममाचरम् ॥११-१४-३॥
Indeed, your son of great strength cannot be overcome by anyone in battle through righteousness; therefore, act with unfair means.
सैन्यस्यैकोऽवशिष्टोऽयं गदायुद्धे च वीर्यवान्। मां हत्वा न हरेद्राज्यमिति चैतत्कृतं मया ॥११-१४-४॥
Only one powerful warrior of the army remains in the mace-battle—this man. I have done this so that, even if he kills me, he should not take the kingdom.
राजपुत्रीं च पाञ्चालीमेकवस्त्रां रजस्वलाम्। भवत्या विदितं सर्वमुक्तवान्यत्सुतस्तव ॥११-१४-५॥
Your son has spoken everything about Panchali, the princess, who was in a single garment and menstruating, as you already know.
सुयोधनमसङ्गृह्य न शक्या भूः ससागरा। केवला भोक्तुमस्माभिरतश्चैतत्कृतं मया ॥११-१४-६॥
Therefore, because the earth with its oceans cannot be enjoyed by us alone without securing Suyodhana, I have done this.
तच्चाप्यप्रियमस्माकं पुत्रस्ते समुपाचरत्। द्रौपद्या यत्सभामध्ये सव्यमूरुमदर्शयत् ॥११-१४-७॥
Your son also did that which was unpleasant to us; in the midst of the assembly, he showed his left thigh to Draupadī.
तत्रैव वध्यः सोऽस्माकं दुराचारोऽम्ब ते सुतः। धर्मराजाज्ञया चैव स्थिताः स्म समये तदा ॥११-१४-८॥
O mother, your son, who is wicked, was to be slain there itself; by the command of Dharmarāja, we indeed remained at that time.
वैरमुद्धुक्षितं राज्ञि पुत्रेण तव तन्महत्। क्लेशिताश्च वने नित्यं तत एतत्कृतं मया ॥११-१४-९॥
O queen, your son inflamed great enmity; being always afflicted in the forest, therefore, I have done this.
वैरस्यास्य गतः पारं हत्वा दुर्योधनं रणे। राज्यं युधिष्ठिरः प्राप्तो वयं च गतमन्यवः ॥११-१४-१०॥
Having slain Duryodhana in battle, Yudhishthira has obtained the kingdom, the enmity is ended, and we too are now free from anger.
गान्धार्युवाच॥
Gandhari said:
न तस्यैष वधस्तात यत्प्रशंससि मे सुतम्। कृतवांश्चापि तत्सर्वं यदिदं भाषसे मयि ॥११-१४-११॥
O father, this is not his killing for which you praise my son; and whatever you say about me, he has indeed done all that.
हताश्वे नकुले यत्तद्वृषसेनेन भारत। अपिबः शोणितं सङ्ख्ये दुःशासनशरीरजम् ॥११-१४-१२॥
O Bhārata, when Nakula's chariot was destroyed by Vṛṣasena, you drank the blood that came from Duḥśāsana's body on the battlefield.
सद्भिर्विगर्हितं घोरमनार्यजनसेवितम्। क्रूरं कर्माकरोः कस्मात्तदयुक्तं वृकोदर ॥११-१४-१३॥
O Vṛkodara, why did you do that improper, cruel action, condemned by the virtuous and practiced by ignoble people?
भीमसेन उवाच॥
Bhīmasena said:
अन्यस्यापि न पातव्यं रुधिरं किं पुनः स्वकम्। यथैवात्मा तथा भ्राता विशेषो नास्ति कश्चन ॥११-१४-१४॥
One should not shed another's blood, much less one's own. Just as the self, so is the brother; there is no distinction whatsoever.
रुधिरं न व्यतिक्रामद्दन्तोष्ठं मेऽम्ब मा शुचः। वैवस्वतस्तु तद्वेद हस्तौ मे रुधिरोक्षितौ ॥११-१४-१५॥
Mother, blood has not passed my teeth and lips, do not grieve. But Yama knows that my hands are smeared with blood.
हताश्वं नकुलं दृष्ट्वा वृषसेनेन संयुगे। भ्रातॄणां सम्प्रहृष्टानां त्रासः सञ्जनितो मया ॥११-१४-१६॥
When I saw Nakula, whose horses had been killed by Vṛṣasena in battle, I caused fear among my brothers, who were greatly rejoicing.
केशपक्षपरामर्शे द्रौपद्या द्यूतकारिते। क्रोधाद्यदब्रुवं चाहं तच्च मे हृदि वर्तते ॥११-१४-१७॥
The memory of Draupadī's hair being seized during the dice-game, and the words I spoke in anger then, still remain in my heart.
क्षत्रधर्माच्च्युतो राज्ञि भवेयं शास्वतीः समाः। प्रतिज्ञां तामनिस्तीर्य ततस्तत्कृतवानहम् ॥११-१४-१८॥
O queen, had I abandoned the duty of a warrior and not fulfilled that vow, I would have lived for endless years; therefore, I did that.
न मामर्हसि गान्धारि दोषेण परिशङ्कितुम्। अनिगृह्य पुरा पुत्रानस्मास्वनपकारिषु ॥११-१४-१९॥
O Gāndhārī, you should not suspect me of any fault; in the past, without restraining your sons, you did not act against us who had done no wrong.
गान्धार्युवाच॥
Gandhari spoke:
वृद्धस्यास्य शतं पुत्रान्निघ्नंस्त्वमपराजितः। कस्मान्न शेषयः कञ्चिद्येनाल्पमपराधितम् ॥११-१४-२०॥
You, the unconquered one, have killed a hundred sons of this old man; why do you not spare even one who has committed only a small offense?
सन्तानमावयोस्तात वृद्धयोर्हृतराज्ययोः। कथमन्धद्वयस्यास्य यष्टिरेका न वर्जिता ॥११-१४-२१॥
O father, both of us are old and have lost our kingdom; how is it that even a single staff has not been left for these two blind men, our only offspring?
शेषे ह्यवस्थिते तात पुत्राणामन्तके त्वयि। न मे दुःखं भवेदेतद्यदि त्वं धर्ममाचरः ॥११-१४-२२॥
O dear one, if you, the last of my sons, survive and practice righteousness, then I will have no sorrow.
