Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु गान्धारी कुरूणामाविकर्तनम् अपश्यत्तत्र तिष्ठन्ती सर्वं दिव्येन चक्षुषा
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having said so, Gandhari, though standing on that spot which was distant from the field of battle, saw with her spiritual eye, the slaughter of the Kurus.
पतिव्रता महाभागा समानव्रतचारिणी उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता सततं सत्यवादिनी
M. N. Dutt: Devoted to her lord, that highly blessed lady always practised high vows. Practising the severest penances, she was always truthful in her speech.
वरदानेन कृष्णस्य महर्षेः पुण्यकर्मणः दिव्यज्ञानबलोपेता विविधं पर्यदेवयत्
M. N. Dutt: By virtue of the gift of the boon by the great Rishi Vyasa of pure deeds, she came by spiritual knowledge and power. The lady then piteously bewailed.
ददर्श सा बुद्धिमती दूरादपि यथान्तिके रणाजिरं नृवीराणामद्भुतं लोमहर्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: The highly intelligent Kuru dame saw, from a distance, but as if from a near point, that field of battle, terrible to look at and full of wonderful sights, of those foremost of warriors.
अस्थिकेशपरिस्तीर्णं शोणितौघपरिप्लुतम् शरीरैर्बहुसाहस्रैर्विनिकीर्णं समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Strewn with bones and hair, and covered with streams of blood, that field was filled with thousands upon thousands of dead bodies on every side.
गजाश्वरथयोधानामावृतं रुधिराविलैः शरीरैरशिरस्कैश्च विदेहैश्च शिरोगणैः
M. N. Dutt: covered with the blood of elephants and horses and car-warriors and various warriors, it was filled with headless trunks and trunkless heads.
गजाश्वनरवीराणां निःसत्त्वैरभिसंवृतम् सृगालबडकाकोलकङ्ककाकनिषेवितम्
M. N. Dutt: And it resounded with the cries of elephants and horses and men and women, and abounded with jackals and cranes and ravens and Kankas and crows.
रक्षसां पुरुषादानां मोदनं कुरराकुलम् अशिवाभिः शिवाभिश्च नादितं गृध्रसेवितम्
M. N. Dutt: And it was the sporting ground of Rakshasas living on human flesh. And it was filled with ospreys and vultures and resounded with the inauspicious yells of jackals.
ततो व्यासाभ्यनुज्ञातो धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः पाण्डुपुत्राश्च ते सर्वे युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः
AI Translation: Then, with Vyasa's permission, King Dhritarashtra, and all the sons of Pandu, led by Yudhishthira,
वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य हतबन्धुं च पार्थिवम् कुरुस्त्रियः समासाद्य जग्मुरायोधनं प्रति
AI Translation: Having placed Vasudeva in front, and the king whose relatives were slain, the Kuru women approached and went to the battlefield.
समासाद्य कुरुक्षेत्रं ताः स्त्रियो निहतेश्वराः अपश्यन्त हतांस्तत्र पुत्रान्भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पतीन्
AI Translation: Having reached Kurukshetra, those women whose lords were slain saw their sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands slain there.
क्रव्यादैर्भक्ष्यमाणान्वै गोमायुबडवायसैः भूतैः पिशाचै रक्षोभिर्विविधैश्च निशाचरैः
AI Translation: Being devoured by carnivorous animals, jackals, crows, and vultures, By ghosts, demons, and various kinds of nocturnal creatures,
रुद्राक्रीडनिभं दृष्ट्वा तदा विशसनं स्त्रियः महार्हेभ्योऽथ यानेभ्यो विक्रोशन्त्यो निपेतिरे
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that onslaught which resembled the spectacles seen on the sporting ground of Rudra, the ladies cried and quickly got down from their costly cars. were
अदृष्टपूर्वं पश्यन्त्यो दुःखार्ता भरतस्त्रियः शरीरेष्वस्खलन्नन्या न्यपतंश्चापरा भुवि
M. N. Dutt: Witnessing sights the like of which they had never before seen, the Bharata ladies felt their limbs to be deprived of strength and dropped down on the ground.
श्रान्तानां चाप्यनाथानां नासीत्काचन चेतना पाञ्चालकुरुयोषाणां कृपणं तदभून्महत्
M. N. Dutt: Others became so stupefied that they lost their consciousness. Indeed, the Panchala and the Kuru ladies plunged into indescribable distress.
दुःखोपहतचित्ताभिः समन्तादनुनादितम् दृष्ट्वायोधनमत्युग्रं धर्मज्ञा सुबलात्मजा
AI Translation: The battlefield was filled with the cries of women whose minds were tormented by sorrow. Seeing the extremely fierce battlefield, Subala's daughter, who knew Dharma,
ततः सा पुण्डरीकाक्षमामन्त्र्य पुरुषोत्तमम् कुरूणां वैशसं दृष्ट्वा दुःखाद्वचनमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Then, having addressed the lotus-eyed Purusottama, seeing the destruction of the Kurus, she spoke these words out of sorrow.
पश्यैताः पुण्डरीकाक्ष स्नुषा मे निहतेश्वराः प्रकीर्णकेशाः क्रोशन्तीः कुररीरिव माधव
AI Translation: O lotus-eyed one, look at my daughters-in-law, whose husbands are killed, with dishevelled hair, crying like a female deer, O Madhava.
अमूस्त्वभिसमागम्य स्मरन्त्यो भरतर्षभान् पृथगेवाभ्यधावन्त पुत्रान्भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पतीन्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing those dead bodies, they are remembering the great Bharata chiefs! They are running here and those in a body towards their sons and brothers and sires and husbands.
वीरसूभिर्महाबाहो हतपुत्राभिरावृतम् क्वचिच्च वीरपत्नीभिर्हतवीराभिराकुलम्
M. N. Dutt: See, O mighty-armed one, the field is covered with mothers of heroes, all of whom, however, have been deprived of children! There, that part is covered with wives of heroes, who have however, been bereaved of their husbands.
शोभितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्भीष्मकर्णाभिमन्युभिः द्रोणद्रुपदशल्यैश्च ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः
M. N. Dutt: See the field of battle is adorned with those foremost of men, viz., Bhishma and Karna and Abhimanyu and Drona and Drupada and Shalya.
काञ्चनैः कवचैर्निष्कैर्मणिभिश्च महात्मनाम् अङ्गदैर्हस्तकेयूरैः स्रग्भिश्च समलंकृतम्
M. N. Dutt: See it is adorned also with the golden coasts of mail, and with the precious gems, of high-souled warriors, and with their Angadas and Keyuras and garlands.
वीरबाहुविसृष्टाभिः शक्तिभिः परिघैरपि खड्गैश्च विमलैस्तीक्ष्णैः सशरैश्च शरासनैः
M. N. Dutt: Behold, it is covered with darts and spikes discharged by heroic hands, and swords and various kinds of keen arrows and bows.
क्रव्यादसंघैर्मुदितैस्तिष्ठद्भिः सहितैः क्वचित् क्वचिदाक्रीडमानैश्च शयानैरपरैः क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: Beasts of prey, in a body, are standing or sporting or lying down according to their pleasure.
एतदेवंविधं वीर संपश्यायोधनं विभो पश्यमाना च दह्यामि शोकेनाहं जनार्दन
M. N. Dutt: Behold, O powerful hero, the field of battle in this state! At this sight, O Janarddana, I am burning with grief.
Supplementary Passages:
11.16.25 After 25ab, T M ins.: *45 त्वया तु साधितं कर्म पुष्कराक्ष महाद्युते
पाञ्चालानां कुरूणां च विनाशं मधुसूदन पञ्चानामिव भूतानां नाहं वधमचिन्तयम्
M. N. Dutt: With the destruction of the Panchalas and the Kurus, O slayer of Madhu, I think, the five elements have been destroyed.
तान्सुपर्णाश्च गृध्राश्च निष्कर्षन्त्यसृगुक्षितान् निगृह्य कवचेषूग्रा भक्षयन्ति सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: Dreadful vultures and thousands of others birds, are dragging those bodies stained with blood and seizing them by their armour, are devouring them.
जयद्रथस्य कर्णस्य तथैव द्रोणभीष्मयोः अभिमन्योर्विनाशं च कश्चिन्तयितुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Who is there that could even imagine the death of such heroes as Jayadratha, Karna, Drona, Bhishma and Abhimanyu.
अवध्यकल्पान्निहतान्दृष्ट्वाहं मधुसूदन गृध्रकङ्कबडश्येनश्वसृगालादनीकृतान्
M. N. Dutt: Alas, though incapable of being killed they have yet been killed, O slayer of Madhu! Behold, vultures, Kankas, ravens hawks, dogs and jackals are feasting upon them.
अमर्षवशमापन्नान्दुर्योधनवशे स्थितान् पश्येमान्पुरुषव्याघ्रान्संशान्तान्पावकानिव
M. N. Dutt: There, those foremost of men, who fought on Duryodhana's side, and went to the field in anger and now lying like extinguished fires.
शयनान्युचिताः सर्वे मृदूनि विमलानि च विपन्नास्तेऽद्य वसुधां विवृतामधिशेरते
M. N. Dutt: All of them deserve sleeping on soft and clean beds, But alas, in a distressful condition they are sleeping to-day on the naked ground.
बन्दिभिः सततं काले स्तुवद्भिरभिनन्दिताः शिवानामशिवा घोराः शृण्वन्ति विविधा गिरः
M. N. Dutt: Recounting their praises poets used to place them before at proper times. They are now listening to the fierce and inauspicious yells of jackals.
ये पुरा शेरते वीराः शयनेषु यशस्विनः चन्दनागुरुदिग्धाङ्गास्तेऽद्य पांसुषु शेरते
M. N. Dutt: Those great heroes who used formerly to sleep on rich beds with their limbs smeared with sandal-paste and powered alone, are now sleeping on the dust.
तेषामाभरणान्येते गृध्रगोमायुवायसाः आक्षिपन्त्यशिवा घोरा विनदन्तः पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: These vultures, wolves and ravens are now their ornaments. Uttering again and again inauspicious and fierce cries, those creatures are now dragging their bodies.
चापानि विशिखान्पीतान्निस्त्रिंशान्विमला गदाः युद्धाभिमानिनः प्रीता जीवन्त इव बिभ्रति
M. N. Dutt: Those heroes, look even cheerful, now, and have still beside them their keen arrows, welltempered swords, and bright maces, as if life has not yet left them!
सुरूपवर्णा बहवः क्रव्यादैरवघट्टिताः ऋषभप्रतिरूपाक्षाः शेरते हरितस्रजः
M. N. Dutt: Many leading heroes, possessed of beauty and fair complexions and bedecked with garlands of gold, are sleeping on the ground! Look beasts of prey are dragging and tearing them.
अपरे पुनरालिङ्ग्य गदाः परिघबाहवः शेरतेऽभिमुखाः शूरा दयिता इव योषितः
M. N. Dutt: Some with massive arms, are sleeping with maces under them as if those were beloved wives.
बिभ्रतः कवचान्यन्ये विमलान्यायुधानि च न धर्षयन्ति क्रव्यादा जीवन्तीति जनार्दन
M. N. Dutt: Others with armour on, are holding in their hands their effulgent weapons. Beasts of prey are not tearing him, O Janarddana, thinking them to be still alive.
क्रव्यादैः कृष्यमाणानामपरेषां महात्मनाम् शातकौम्भ्यः स्रजश्चित्रा विप्रकीर्णाः समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: The beautiful golden garlands on the necks of other illustrious heroes, as the latter and being dragged by carnivorous creatures, are scattered about on all sides.
एते गोमायवो भीमा निहतानां यशस्विनाम् कण्ठान्तरगतान्हारानाक्षिपन्ति सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: There, thousands of fierce wolves, are dragging the golden chains sound the necks of many illustrious but dead heroes.
सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु याननन्दन्त बन्दिनः स्तुतिभिश्च परार्ध्याभिरुपचारैश्च शिक्षिताः
AI Translation: All the bards who were delighted in the last part of the night, And were trained in the highest praise and service,
तानिमाः परिदेवन्ति दुःखार्ताः परमाङ्गनाः कृपणं वृष्णिशार्दूल दुःखशोकार्दिता भृशम्
AI Translation: These women, afflicted by grief, are lamenting. O tiger among the Vrishnis, they are extremely distressed by grief and sorrow.
रक्तोत्पलवनानीव विभान्ति रुचिराणि वै मुखानि परमस्त्रीणां परिशुष्काणि केशव
M. N. Dutt: The faces of those beautiful ladies, O Keshava, though pale, still shine like red lotuses.
रुदितोपरता ह्येता ध्यायन्त्यः संपरिप्लुताः कुरुस्त्रियोऽभिगच्छन्ति तेन तेनैव दुःखिताः
M. N. Dutt: Those Kuru ladies have ceased weeping with their followers and companions. They are all filled with anxiety. Bewilders with sorrows, they are running here and there.
एतान्यादित्यवर्णानि तपनीयनिभानि च रोषरोदनताम्राणि वक्त्राणि कुरुयोषिताम्
M. N. Dutt: The faces of those fair ladies have, with weeping and ire, become effulgent as the morning sun, or gold, or burnished copper.
Supplementary Passages:
11.16.45 After 45, K1.2 Dn1 D1 (marg. sec. m.).2-6.8 ins.: *46 श्यामानां वरवर्णानां गौरीणामेकवाससाम् दुर्योधनवरस्त्रीणां पश्य वृन्दानि केशव अश्रुलालाम्बुभिः सिक्तं सिक्तं शीकरवारिभिः दुर्योधनवरस्त्रीणां सिच्यते नयनाम्बुभिः
आसामपरिपूर्णार्थं निशम्य परिदेवितम् इतरेतरसंक्रन्दान्न विजानन्ति योषितः
M. N. Dutt: Some amongst them, heavily sighing and repeatedly bewailing, are stupefied by grief and are giving up their lives.
एता दीर्घमिवोच्छ्वस्य विक्रुश्य च विलप्य च विस्पन्दमाना दुःखेन वीरा जहति जीवितम्
M. N. Dutt: Many of them, seeing the bodies (of their sons, husbands, or sires,) are weeping and lamcnting. Others and striking their heads with their own soft hands.
बह्व्यो दृष्ट्वा शरीराणि क्रोशन्ति विलपन्ति च पाणिभिश्चापरा घ्नन्ति शिरांसि मृदुपाणयः
M. N. Dutt: The Earth, filled with heaps of heads and hands and other limbs, the sights of destruction, looks resplendent.
शिरोभिः पतितैर्हस्तैः सर्वाङ्गैर्यूथशः कृतैः इतरेतरसंपृक्तैराकीर्णा भाति मेदिनी
M. N. Dutt: Secing many headless trunks of great beauty, and many heads without trunks, those fair ladies and lying unconscious on the ground for a long while.
विशिरस्कानथो कायान्दृष्ट्वा घोराभिनन्दिनः मुह्यन्त्यनुचिता नार्यो विदेहानि शिरांसि च
AI Translation: Seeing headless bodies, and those who delight in the terrible, The women, not accustomed to it, are confused, seeing the bodies without heads.
शिरः कायेन संधाय प्रेक्षमाणा विचेतसः अपश्यन्त्यो परं तत्र नेदमस्येति दुःखिताः
AI Translation: With their heads joined to their bodies, they look around, their minds distracted. Not seeing the supreme one there, they are distressed, thinking, "This is not his."
बाहूरुचरणानन्यान्विशिखोन्मथितान्पृथक् संदधत्योऽसुखाविष्टा मूर्छन्त्येताः पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Other, uniting arms and thighs and feet, cut off with arrows, are grieving and losing their consciousness repeatedly.
उत्कृत्तशिरसश्चान्यान्विजग्धान्मृगपक्षिभिः दृष्ट्वा काश्चिन्न जानन्ति भर्तॄन्भरतयोषितः
M. N. Dutt: Some amongst the Bharata ladies, beholding the bodies of their husbands, mangled by animals and birds and shorn of heads,-are not recognising them.
पाणिभिश्चापरा घ्नन्ति शिरांसि मधुसूदन प्रेक्ष्य भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पुत्रान्पतींश्च निहतान्परैः
M. N. Dutt: Others, seeing their brothers, sires, sons, and husbands killed by enemies, are, O slayer of Madhu, striking their heads with their own hands.
बाहुभिश्च सखड्गैश्च शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः अगम्यकल्पा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा
M. N. Dutt: Covered with flesh and blood, the Earth has become impassable with arms still holding swords and with heads adorned with ear-rings.
Supplementary Passages:
11.16.55 After 55, the Bom. ed. alone ins.: *47 बभूव भरतश्रेष्ठ प्राणिभिर्गतजीवितैः
न दुःखेषूचिताः पूर्वं दुःखं गाहन्त्यनिन्दिताः भ्रातृभिः पितृभिः पुत्रैरुपकीर्णां वसुंधराम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the field covered with the dead bodies of their brothers and sires, and sons, those faultless ladies, who had never before experienced the least distress, are now plunged into indescribable misery.
यूथानीव किशोरीणां सुकेशीनां जनार्दन स्नुषाणां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्य वृन्दान्यनेकशः
M. N. Dutt: Look, O Janarddana, at those Dhritarashtra's daughters-in-law, resembling a number of beautiful fillies adorned with excellent manes.
अतो दुःखतरं किं नु केशव प्रतिभाति मे यदिमाः कुर्वते सर्वा रूपमुच्चावचं स्त्रियः
AI Translation: What is more painful than this, O Keśava, appears to me? If all these women were to assume the form of high and low.
नूनमाचरितं पापं मया पूर्वेषु जन्मसु या पश्यामि हतान्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्भ्रातॄंश्च केशव एवमार्ता विलपती ददर्श निहतं सुतम्
M. N. Dutt: O Keshava, is there a more sorrowful sight for me to see then that presented by those ladies of fair forms who are put into such a miserable plight? I must, forsooth, have perpetrated great sins in my previous existence, since I am beholding, O Keshava, my sons and grandsons and brothers all killed by foes.' While thus bewailing Gandhari saw the dead body of her son Duryodhana.
Supplementary Passages:
11.16.59 After 59e, K1-3.5 Dn1 D2.3.5 T G1 M ins.: *48 समाभाष्य जनार्दनम् गान्धारी पुत्रशोकार्ता On the other hand, Dn2 ins. after 59e: *49 गान्धारी दुःखकर्शिता शयानं वीरशयने