12.033
Core and Pancharatra: Yudhishthira, not satisfied, asks about the special Aashramas.
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
Sons, grandsons, brothers, fathers, fathers-in-law, teachers, maternal uncles, and grandfathers have all been killed.
The warriors, noble souls, relatives, friends, companions, kinsmen, brothers, and the grandfather (all were present).
O grandsire, many kings of men from various regions who had assembled were killed by me alone, greedy for the kingdom.
O sage, what will I gain by slaying such always righteous kings and heroes who have drunk Soma many times?
Today, I am constantly tormented, thinking again and again of this earth deprived of those illustrious, lion-like kings.
O grandsire, seeing the terrible slaughter of kinsmen, the enemies slain by the hundreds, and countless other men, I am filled with anguish.
What will be the condition today of those noble women who have been deprived by their own sons, husbands, and brothers?
The emaciated and distressed women, crying out, fall to the earth because of us, the terrible Pāṇḍavas joined with the Vṛṣṇis, makers of endless (deeds).
Not seeing their fathers, brothers, husbands, sons, and all their dear ones, these women, having abandoned their lives, will all go to the abode of Yama.
O best of the twice-born, due to affection, I have no doubt about this. It is clear that, because of the subtlety of dharma, we will incur the sin of killing a woman.
If we, having killed our friends, commit endless sin, we shall indeed fall into hell, head downwards and all.
O best one, we shall abandon our bodies through severe austerity; now, O grandsire, please tell me about the special hermitages.
