11.016
Pancharatra and Core: Gandhari observes the battlefield with the help of Krishna Dwaipayana's blessings and laments to Krishna regarding the horrors of the battlefield and regarding her slain sons and son-in-law.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्त्वा तु गान्धारी कुरूणामाविकर्तनम्। अपश्यत्तत्र तिष्ठन्ती सर्वं दिव्येन चक्षुषा ॥११-१६-१॥
After thus speaking, Gandhari beheld the unshorn one of the Kurus standing there, perceiving all with her divine sight.
पतिव्रता महाभागा समानव्रतचारिणी। उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता सततं सत्यवादिनी ॥११-१६-२॥
She was devoted to her husband, greatly fortunate, practiced the same vow, endowed with intense austerity, and always spoke the truth.
वरदानेन कृष्णस्य महर्षेः पुण्यकर्मणः। दिव्यज्ञानबलोपेता विविधं पर्यदेवयत् ॥११-१६-३॥
Endowed with the boon of Kṛṣṇa, the great sage of meritorious deeds, and divine knowledge and strength, she lamented in various ways.
ददर्श सा बुद्धिमती दूरादपि यथान्तिके। रणाजिरं नृवीराणामद्भुतं लोमहर्षणम् ॥११-१६-४॥
The intelligent lady saw, even from a distance as if it were close, the wondrous and terrifying battlefield of heroic men.
अस्थिकेशपरिस्तीर्णं शोणितौघपरिप्लुतम्। शरीरैर्बहुसाहस्रैर्विनिकीर्णं समन्ततः ॥११-१६-५॥
The area was covered with bones and hair, submerged in streams of blood, and scattered everywhere with thousands upon thousands of bodies.
गजाश्वरथयोधानामावृतं रुधिराविलैः। शरीरैरशिरस्कैश्च विदेहैश्च शिरोगणैः ॥११-१६-६॥
The field was covered with the blood-stained bodies of elephants, horses, chariots, and warriors, as well as with headless and lifeless bodies and heaps of heads.
गजाश्वनरवीराणां निःसत्त्वैरभिसंवृतम्। सृगालबडकाकोलकङ्ककाकनिषेवितम् ॥११-१६-७॥
It was covered with the lifeless bodies of elephants, horses, men, and heroes, and was frequented by jackals, vultures, crows, herons, and crows.
रक्षसां पुरुषादानां मोदनं कुरराकुलम्। अशिवाभिः शिवाभिश्च नादितं गृध्रसेवितम् ॥११-१६-८॥
It was a place that delighted the rākṣasas and man-eaters, filled with kuraras, resounding with both inauspicious and auspicious cries, and frequented by vultures.
ततो व्यासाभ्यनुज्ञातो धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः। पाण्डुपुत्राश्च ते सर्वे युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः ॥११-१६-९॥
Then, with Vyāsa's permission, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and all the sons of Pāṇḍu, led by Yudhiṣṭhira, proceeded together.
वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य हतबन्धुं च पार्थिवम्। कुरुस्त्रियः समासाद्य जग्मुरायोधनं प्रति ॥११-१६-१०॥
The Kuru women, led by Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) and the bereaved king, went to the battlefield.
समासाद्य कुरुक्षेत्रं ताः स्त्रियो निहतेश्वराः। अपश्यन्त हतांस्तत्र पुत्रान्भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पतीन् ॥११-१६-११॥
When those women, whose husbands had been killed, reached Kurukṣetra, they saw their sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands lying dead there.
क्रव्यादैर्भक्ष्यमाणान्वै गोमायुबडवायसैः। भूतैः पिशाचै रक्षोभिर्विविधैश्च निशाचरैः ॥११-१६-१२॥
Indeed, they were being devoured by flesh-eaters, jackals, vultures, spirits, piśācas, rākṣasas, and various other night-wandering beings.
रुद्राक्रीडनिभं दृष्ट्वा तदा विशसनं स्त्रियः। महार्हेभ्योऽथ यानेभ्यो विक्रोशन्त्यो निपेतिरे ॥११-१६-१३॥
When the women saw the slaughter, which looked like Rudra’s play, they cried out and fell from their luxurious vehicles.
अदृष्टपूर्वं पश्यन्त्यो दुःखार्ता भरतस्त्रियः। शरीरेष्वस्खलन्नन्या न्यपतंश्चापरा भुवि ॥११-१६-१४॥
The women of Bharata, overwhelmed with grief, saw something unprecedented; some, without stumbling, fell upon the bodies, while others collapsed to the ground.
श्रान्तानां चाप्यनाथानां नासीत्काचन चेतना। पाञ्चालकुरुयोषाणां कृपणं तदभून्महत् ॥११-१६-१५॥
Among the weary and helpless, none retained consciousness; for the women of the Pāñcālas and Kurus, it was a truly pitiable situation.
दुःखोपहतचित्ताभिः समन्तादनुनादितम्। दृष्ट्वायोधनमत्युग्रं धर्मज्ञा सुबलात्मजा ॥११-१६-१६॥
When the daughter of Subala, who knew dharma, saw the very fierce battle resounding from all sides, filled with those whose minds were afflicted by sorrow.
ततः सा पुण्डरीकाक्षमामन्त्र्य पुरुषोत्तमम्। कुरूणां वैशसं दृष्ट्वा दुःखाद्वचनमब्रवीत् ॥११-१६-१७॥
Then, seeing the slaughter of the Kurus, she sorrowfully addressed the lotus-eyed supreme person and spoke these words.
पश्यैताः पुण्डरीकाक्ष स्नुषा मे निहतेश्वराः। प्रकीर्णकेशाः क्रोशन्तीः कुररीरिव माधव ॥११-१६-१८॥
O Mādhava, see these daughters-in-law of mine, O lotus-eyed one, whose husbands have been slain, with their hair disheveled, crying like female curlews.
अमूस्त्वभिसमागम्य स्मरन्त्यो भरतर्षभान्। पृथगेवाभ्यधावन्त पुत्रान्भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पतीन् ॥११-१६-१९॥
But those women, having come together and remembering the best of the Bharatas, each rushed separately towards their sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands.
वीरसूभिर्महाबाहो हतपुत्राभिरावृतम्। क्वचिच्च वीरपत्नीभिर्हतवीराभिराकुलम् ॥११-१६-२०॥
O mighty-armed one, the place was covered by heroic mothers whose sons had been killed, and in some places, it was filled with the wives of heroes whose husbands had been slain.
शोभितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्भीष्मकर्णाभिमन्युभिः। द्रोणद्रुपदशल्यैश्च ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः ॥११-१६-२१॥
It was adorned by mighty warriors—Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Abhimanyu, Droṇa, Drupada, and Śalya—who shone like blazing fires.
काञ्चनैः कवचैर्निष्कैर्मणिभिश्च महात्मनाम्। अङ्गदैर्हस्तकेयूरैः स्रग्भिश्च समलङ्कृतम् ॥११-१६-२२॥
It was completely adorned with gold, armours, coins, jewels, armlets, bracelets, and garlands belonging to the great-souled ones.
वीरबाहुविसृष्टाभिः शक्तिभिः परिघैरपि। खड्गैश्च विमलैस्तीक्ष्णैः सशरैश्च शरासनैः ॥११-१६-२३॥
With spears hurled by heroic arms, iron clubs, pure and sharp swords, and bows with arrows.
क्रव्यादसङ्घैर्मुदितैस्तिष्ठद्भिः सहितैः क्वचित्। क्वचिदाक्रीडमानैश्च शयानैरपरैः क्वचित् ॥११-१६-२४॥
In some places, there were groups of flesh-eaters standing together joyfully; elsewhere, some were playing, and others were lying down.
एतदेवंविधं वीर सम्पश्यायोधनं विभो। पश्यमाना च दह्यामि शोकेनाहं जनार्दन ॥११-१६-२५॥
O hero, behold this kind of battlefield, O mighty one. As I see it, I am burning with grief, O Janardana.
पाञ्चालानां कुरूणां च विनाशं मधुसूदन। पञ्चानामिव भूतानां नाहं वधमचिन्तयम् ॥११-१६-२६॥
O Madhusūdana, I never thought of the destruction of the Pāñcālas and Kurus as being like the slaughter of the five beings.
तान्सुपर्णाश्च गृध्राश्च निष्कर्षन्त्यसृगुक्षितान्। निगृह्य कवचेषूग्रा भक्षयन्ति सहस्रशः ॥११-१६-२७॥
The divine birds and vultures, fierce, drag out those smeared with blood from their armors, and devour them by thousands.
जयद्रथस्य कर्णस्य तथैव द्रोणभीष्मयोः। अभिमन्योर्विनाशं च कश्चिन्तयितुमर्हति ॥११-१६-२८॥
Who can truly contemplate the fates of Jayadratha, Karṇa, Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and the destruction of Abhimanyu?
अवध्यकल्पान्निहतान्दृष्ट्वाहं मधुसूदन। गृध्रकङ्कबडश्येनश्वसृगालादनीकृतान् ॥११-१६-२९॥
O Madhusudana, seeing those who should not have been killed lying slain, made food for vultures, herons, cranes, hawks, dogs, and jackals, I...
अमर्षवशमापन्नान्दुर्योधनवशे स्थितान्। पश्येमान्पुरुषव्याघ्रान्संशान्तान्पावकानिव ॥११-१६-३०॥
Behold these heroes, subdued by anger and under Duryodhana’s control, standing calmly like extinguished fires.
शयनान्युचिताः सर्वे मृदूनि विमलानि च। विपन्नास्तेऽद्य वसुधां विवृतामधिशेरते ॥११-१६-३१॥
Those who were used to soft, clean, and suitable beds now, being deprived, lie today upon the bare ground.
बन्दिभिः सततं काले स्तुवद्भिरभिनन्दिताः। शिवानामशिवा घोराः शृण्वन्ति विविधा गिरः ॥११-१६-३२॥
Even as the panegyrists constantly praise and extol them at all times, the inauspicious and terrible beings among the auspicious ones hear various words.
ये पुरा शेरते वीराः शयनेषु यशस्विनः। चन्दनागुरुदिग्धाङ्गास्तेऽद्य पांसुषु शेरते ॥११-१६-३३॥
Those heroes who once lay on beds, their bodies anointed with sandalwood and aloeswood, now lie in the dust.
तेषामाभरणान्येते गृध्रगोमायुवायसाः। आक्षिपन्त्यशिवा घोरा विनदन्तः पुनः पुनः ॥११-१६-३४॥
The ornaments of those men are being snatched again and again by these inauspicious and terrible vultures, jackals, and crows, who howl repeatedly.
चापानि विशिखान्पीतान्निस्त्रिंशान्विमला गदाः। युद्धाभिमानिनः प्रीता जीवन्त इव बिभ्रति ॥११-१६-३५॥
Those proud of battle, delighted, bear bows, arrows, yellow swords, and pure maces as if they were alive.
सुरूपवर्णा बहवः क्रव्यादैरवघट्टिताः। ऋषभप्रतिरूपाक्षाः शेरते हरितस्रजः ॥११-१६-३६॥
Many of beautiful color, struck by flesh-eaters, with eyes like a bull, lie adorned with green garlands.
अपरे पुनरालिङ्ग्य गदाः परिघबाहवः। शेरतेऽभिमुखाः शूरा दयिता इव योषितः ॥११-१६-३७॥
Others, once more, embrace their maces and, with arms like clubs, lie facing them, like heroes lying with their beloved women.
बिभ्रतः कवचान्यन्ये विमलान्यायुधानि च। न धर्षयन्ति क्रव्यादा जीवन्तीति जनार्दन ॥११-१६-३८॥
O Janardana, others bear armours and pure weapons, and the flesh-eating creatures do not attack the living.
क्रव्यादैः कृष्यमाणानामपरेषां महात्मनाम्। शातकौम्भ्यः स्रजश्चित्रा विप्रकीर्णाः समन्ततः ॥११-१६-३९॥
The golden, variegated garlands of the great souls, who were being dragged by the flesh-eaters, were scattered all around.
एते गोमायवो भीमा निहतानां यशस्विनाम्। कण्ठान्तरगतान्हारानाक्षिपन्ति सहस्रशः ॥११-१६-४०॥
Thousands of these fierce jackals are pulling out the necklaces from the necks of the illustrious slain.
सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु याननन्दन्त बन्दिनः। स्तुतिभिश्च परार्ध्याभिरुपचारैश्च शिक्षिताः ॥११-१६-४१॥
During all the latter nights, the bards who rejoiced were trained with praises and the most excellent services.
तानिमाः परिदेवन्ति दुःखार्ताः परमाङ्गनाः। कृपणं वृष्णिशार्दूल दुःखशोकार्दिता भृशम् ॥११-१६-४२॥
O tiger among the Vṛṣṇis, these noble women, afflicted by sorrow, are lamenting piteously, overwhelmed by grief and sorrow to a great extent.
रक्तोत्पलवनानीव विभान्ति रुचिराणि वै। मुखानि परमस्त्रीणां परिशुष्काणि केशव ॥११-१६-४३॥
O Keśava, the faces of the noble women, though withered, still shine beautifully like forests of red lotuses.
रुदितोपरता ह्येता ध्यायन्त्यः सम्परिप्लुताः। कुरुस्त्रियोऽभिगच्छन्ति तेन तेनैव दुःखिताः ॥११-१६-४४॥
These women, having ceased from weeping, deeply meditating and completely overwhelmed, the Kuru women approach, afflicted by that very grief.
एतान्यादित्यवर्णानि तपनीयनिभानि च। रोषरोदनताम्राणि वक्त्राणि कुरुयोषिताम् ॥११-१६-४५॥
These are the sun-colored, golden-hued, and coppery faces, flushed with anger and tears, of the women of the Kurus.
आसामपरिपूर्णार्थं निशम्य परिदेवितम्। इतरेतरसङ्क्रन्दान्न विजानन्ति योषितः ॥११-१६-४६॥
Hearing the lamentation for the complete fulfillment of these women, the women do not comprehend each other's cries.
एता दीर्घमिवोच्छ्वस्य विक्रुश्य च विलप्य च। विस्पन्दमाना दुःखेन वीरा जहति जीवितम् ॥११-१६-४७॥
These heroic women, after sighing deeply, crying out and lamenting, trembling with pain, give up their lives.
बह्व्यो दृष्ट्वा शरीराणि क्रोशन्ति विलपन्ति च। पाणिभिश्चापरा घ्नन्ति शिरांसि मृदुपाणयः ॥११-१६-४८॥
Many women, seeing the bodies, cry out and lament; others, with their soft hands, strike their heads.
शिरोभिः पतितैर्हस्तैः सर्वाङ्गैर्यूथशः कृतैः। इतरेतरसम्पृक्तैराकीर्णा भाति मेदिनी ॥११-१६-४९॥
The earth appears covered and shining with heaps of fallen heads, hands, and all limbs, all intermingled together.
विशिरस्कानथो कायान्दृष्ट्वा घोराभिनन्दिनः। मुह्यन्त्यनुचिता नार्यो विदेहानि शिरांसि च ॥११-१६-५०॥
When the women, unaccustomed to such sights, see the headless, helpless bodies and the terrible rejoicers, they become bewildered at the headless bodies and the severed heads.
शिरः कायेन सन्धाय प्रेक्षमाणा विचेतसः। अपश्यन्त्यो परं तत्र नेदमस्येति दुःखिताः ॥११-१६-५१॥
Placing their heads with their bodies, looking around in confusion, unable to see the other there, they said, 'This is not his,' and were distressed.
बाहूरुचरणानन्यान्विशिखोन्मथितान्पृथक्। संदधत्योऽसुखाविष्टा मूर्छन्त्येताः पुनः पुनः ॥११-१६-५२॥
Their arms, thighs, feet, and other limbs, having been torn apart separately by arrows, as they try to join them, overcome by pain, these women faint again and again.
उत्कृत्तशिरसश्चान्यान्विजग्धान्मृगपक्षिभिः। दृष्ट्वा काश्चिन्न जानन्ति भर्तॄन्भरतयोषितः ॥११-१६-५३॥
Some of the women of Bharata, seeing other men whose heads have been cut off and who have been devoured by beasts and birds, do not recognize their husbands.
पाणिभिश्चापरा घ्नन्ति शिरांसि मधुसूदन। प्रेक्ष्य भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पुत्रान्पतींश्च निहतान्परैः ॥११-१६-५४॥
O Madhusūdana, others strike heads with their hands, seeing their brothers, fathers, sons, and husbands slain by others.
बाहुभिश्च सखड्गैश्च शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः। अगम्यकल्पा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा ॥११-१६-५५॥
The earth, covered with arms, swords, heads, and earrings, became unapproachable, its surface muddy with flesh and blood.
न दुःखेषूचिताः पूर्वं दुःखं गाहन्त्यनिन्दिताः। भ्रातृभिः पितृभिः पुत्रैरुपकीर्णां वसुन्धराम् ॥११-१६-५६॥
Those who were not previously accustomed to suffering, the blameless ones, now plunge into misery. The earth is covered with brothers, fathers, and sons.
यूथानीव किशोरीणां सुकेशीनां जनार्दन। स्नुषाणां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्य वृन्दान्यनेकशः ॥११-१६-५७॥
O Janardana, behold the many groups of Dhritarashtra's daughters-in-law, all with beautiful hair, resembling herds of young maidens.
अतो दुःखतरं किं नु केशव प्रतिभाति मे। यदिमाः कुर्वते सर्वा रूपमुच्चावचं स्त्रियः ॥११-१६-५८॥
O Keśava, nothing seems more sorrowful to me than this: if all these women assume various forms, high and low.
नूनमाचरितं पापं मया पूर्वेषु जन्मसु। या पश्यामि हतान्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्भ्रातॄंश्च केशव ॥ एवमार्ता विलपती ददर्श निहतं सुतम् ॥११-१६-५९॥
"Certainly, O Keśava, I must have committed sin in previous births, for I see my sons, grandsons, and brothers slain." Thus, afflicted and lamenting, she saw her slain son.
