11.017
Pancharatra and Core: Gandhari continues her lamentation, addressed to Lord Krishna.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, seeing Duryodhana, Gandhari, overcome with grief, suddenly collapsed to the ground like a banana plant cut down in the forest.
But she, regaining consciousness, cried out again and again, seeing Duryodhana lying there smeared with blood.
Gandhari, having embraced her pitiable son, lamented all around. Afflicted with grief, she wailed, "Alas, alas, son!" her senses overwhelmed.
Her chest, broad and adorned with necklaces and gold coins, was wetted by tears as she, afflicted by grief, spoke these words to Hṛṣīkeśa who stood nearby.
O lord, when this battle for the destruction of kinsmen was present, the best among kings, with folded hands, said this to me, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi. In this great excitement among kin, may mother grant me victory.
Thus, when this was said, knowing all my impending misfortune, I said, "O tiger among men, where there is righteousness, there is victory."
O dear son, since you are not fighting and are completely bewildered, surely you have attained the worlds conquered by arms, like the gods, O mighty one.
Thus I had spoken before, O master: I do not grieve for him; but I grieve for Dhritarashtra, the pitiable one who has lost his kin.
O Mādhava, see my son, the best among warriors, intolerant, accomplished in arms, proud in battle, now lying on the hero's bed.
He who once led at the front among the anointed kings, O scorcher of foes, now lies today on the dust; see the change brought by time.
Certainly, Duryodhana, the hero, has attained a rare state. Thus, indeed, he lies facing his foes on a bed attended by heroes.
The one whom kings once surrounded and delighted in, now, lying slain on the earth, is surrounded and attended by vultures.
He who was once fanned by women with excellent fans is now fanned by birds with fans made of feathers.
This mighty-armed and truly valiant hero lies here, strong as he was, like an elephant struck down in battle by Bhīmasena, just as a lion fells an elephant.
O Bhārata, see Duryodhana lying there, O Kṛṣṇa, smeared with blood, slain by Bhīmasena who raised his mace.
Keśava, the mighty-armed, who once led ten divisions of army and one more in battle, has now led those armies to their destruction.
Here lies Duryodhana, the mighty archer and great chariot-warrior, struck down like a tiger by the lion Bhīmasena.
Indeed, this boy, having disregarded Vidura and his father, and being of dull fortune, by disrespecting elders, has met his death.
For thirteen years, the earth, free from rival claimants, remained under his rule. Now, my son, the lord of the earth, lies slain upon the ground.
O Kṛṣṇa, I saw the earth, under the rule of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, filled with elephants, cows, and horses, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, but that did not last long.
O Mādhava, today I see her only under another's command, O mighty-armed; deprived of elephants, cows, and horses, why indeed do I live?
See, this is even more difficult for me than the death of my son: these women surround the slain heroes in battle.
O Kṛṣṇa, behold the mother of Lakṣmaṇa, with her hair disheveled, beautiful hips, who had gone to the lap of Duryodhana, and who resembles a golden altar.
Indeed, this girl, in earlier times, while the mighty-armed man was alive, found joy resting in his arms—the high-minded woman of the beautiful-armed one.
But how is it that my heart does not break into a hundred pieces, seeing my son slain together with (another) son in battle?
The blameless mother sniffs her blood-smeared son and wipes Duryodhana's left thighs with her hand.
Is this high-minded woman grieving for her husband or her son? Thus, as she stands, she appears to be gazing at her son.
O Mādhava, wide-eyed, she struck her own head with both arms and fell upon the chest of the heroic king of the Kurus.
Her face shone like a lotus, with a radiance from within, as the ascetic woman wiped the faces of her son and her husband.
Even if there are authoritative texts or the Vedas, it is certain that this king has not attained the worlds acquired by the strength of his arms.
