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".
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasyā bhīmaseno'tha bhītavat। gāndhārīṃ pratyuvācedaṃ vacaḥ sānunayaṃ tadā ॥11-14-1॥
When Bhīmasena heard her words, he, appearing frightened, then addressed Gāndhārī with conciliatory words.
adharmo yadi vā dharmastrāsāttatra mayā kṛtaḥ। ātmānaṃ trātukāmena tanme tvaṃ kṣantumarhasi ॥11-14-2॥
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.
na hi yuddhena putraste dharmeṇa sa mahābalaḥ। śakyaḥ kenacidudyantumato viṣamamācaram ॥11-14-3॥
Indeed, your son of great strength cannot be overcome by anyone in battle through righteousness; therefore, act with unfair means.
sainyasyaiko'vaśiṣṭo'yaṃ gadāyuddhe ca vīryavān। māṃ hatvā na haredrājyamiti caitatkṛtaṃ mayā ॥11-14-4॥
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.
rājaputrīṃ ca pāñcālīm ekavastrāṃ rajasvalām। bhavatyā viditaṃ sarvam uktavān yat sutas tava ॥11-14-5॥
Your son has spoken everything about Panchali, the princess, who was in a single garment and menstruating, as you already know.
suyodhanamasaṅgṛhya na shakyā bhūḥ sasāgarā। kevalā bhoktum asmābhir ataś caitat kṛtaṃ mayā ॥11-14-6॥
Therefore, because the earth with its oceans cannot be enjoyed by us alone without securing Suyodhana, I have done this.
taccāpyapriyam asmākaṃ putras te samupācarat। draupadyā yat sabhāmadhye savyamūrum adarśayat ॥11-14-7॥
Your son also did that which was unpleasant to us; in the midst of the assembly, he showed his left thigh to Draupadī.
tatraiva vadhyaḥ so'smākaṃ durācāro'mba te sutaḥ। dharmarājājñayā caiva sthitāḥ sma samaye tadā ॥11-14-8॥
O mother, your son, who is wicked, was to be slain there itself; by the command of Dharmarāja, we indeed remained at that time.
vairam uddhukṣitaṃ rājñi putreṇa tava tan mahat| kleśitāś ca vane nityaṃ tata etat kṛtaṃ mayā ||11-14-9||
O queen, your son inflamed great enmity; being always afflicted in the forest, therefore, I have done this.
vairasyāsya gataḥ pāraṃ hatvā duryodhanaṃ raṇe। rājyaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prāpto vayaṃ ca gatamanyavaḥ ॥11-14-10॥
Having slain Duryodhana in battle, Yudhishthira has obtained the kingdom, the enmity is ended, and we too are now free from anger.
gāndhāryuvāca॥
Gandhari said:
na tasya eṣa vadhas tāta yat praśaṃsasi me sutam। kṛtavāṃś ca api tat sarvam yad idaṃ bhāṣase mayi ॥11-14-11॥
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.
hatāśve nakule yat tad vṛṣasenaena bhārata। apibaḥ śoṇitaṃ saṅkhye duḥśāsanaśarīrajam ॥11-14-12॥
O Bhārata, when Nakula's chariot was destroyed by Vṛṣasena, you drank the blood that came from Duḥśāsana's body on the battlefield.
sadbhir vigarhitaṃ ghoram anārya-jana-sevitam। krūraṃ karma akaroḥ kasmāt tad ayuktaṃ vṛkodara ॥11-14-13॥
O Vṛkodara, why did you do that improper, cruel action, condemned by the virtuous and practiced by ignoble people?
bhīmasena uvāca॥
Bhīmasena said:
anyasyāpi na pātavyaṃ rudhiraṃ kiṃ punaḥ svakam। yathaivātmā tathā bhrātā viśeṣo nāsti kaścana ॥11-14-14॥
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.
rudhiraṃ na vyatikrāmad dantoṣṭhaṃ me 'mba mā śucaḥ। vaivasvatastu tad veda hastau me rudhirokṣitau ॥11-14-15॥
Mother, blood has not passed my teeth and lips, do not grieve. But Yama knows that my hands are smeared with blood.
hatāśvaṃ nakulaṃ dṛṣṭvā vṛṣasenaena saṃyuge. bhrātṝṇāṃ samprahṛṣṭānāṃ trāsaḥ sañjanito mayā ॥11-14-16॥
When I saw Nakula, whose horses had been killed by Vṛṣasena in battle, I caused fear among my brothers, who were greatly rejoicing.
keśapakṣaparāmarśe draupadyā dyūtakārite। krodhādyadabruvaṃ cāhaṃ tacca me hṛdi vartate ॥11-14-17॥
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.
kṣatradharmāccyuto rājñi bhaveyaṃ śāsvatīḥ samāḥ। pratijñāṃ tāmanistīrya tatastatkṛtavānaham ॥11-14-18॥
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.
na mām arhasi gāndhāri doṣeṇa pariśaṅkitum। anigṛhya purā putrān asmāsu anapakāriṣu ॥11-14-19॥
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.
gāndhāryuvāca॥
Gandhari spoke:
vṛddhasyāsya śataṃ putrān nighnaṃs tvam aparājitaḥ। kasmān na śeṣayaḥ kañcid yenālpam aparādhitam ॥11-14-20॥
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?
santānam āvayos tāta vṛddhayor hṛta-rājyayoḥ। katham andha-dvayasya asya yaṣṭiḥ ekā na varjitā ॥11-14-21॥
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?
śeṣe hy avasthite tāta putrāṇām-antake tvayi। na me duḥkhaṃ bhaved etad yadi tvaṃ dharmam ācaraḥ ॥11-14-22॥
O dear one, if you, the last of my sons, survive and practice righteousness, then I will have no sorrow.
