वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु गान्धारी कुरूणामवकर्तनम्। अपश्यत्तत्र तिष्ठन्ती सर्वं दिव्येन चक्षुषा॥
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 भागा समानव्रतचारिणी। उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता सततं सत्यवादिनी॥
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॥
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॥
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.
अस्थिकेशवसाकीर्णं शोणितौघपरिप्लुतम्। शरीरैर्बहुसाहौर्विनिकीर्णं समन्ततः॥
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 रुधिराबिलैः। शरीरैरशिरस्कैश्च विदेहैश्च शिरोगणैः॥
covered with the blood of elephants and horses and car-warriors and various warriors, it was filled with headless trunks and trunkless heads.
गजाश्वनरनारीणां नि:स्वरैरभिसंवृतम्। शृगालबककाकोलकङ्ककाकनिवेधितम्॥
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 पुरुषादानं मोदनं कुरराकुलम्। अशिवाभिः शिवाभिश्च नादितं गृध्रसेवितम्॥
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॥ वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य हतबन्धुं च पार्थिवम्। कुरुस्त्रियः समासाद्य जग्मुरायोधनं प्रति॥
Then at the command of Vyasa king Dhritarashtra and all the sons of Pandu led by Yudhishthira, with Vasudeva and all the Kuru ladies, went to the battle-field.
समासाद्य कुरुक्षेत्रं ताः स्त्रियो निहतेश्वराः। अपश्यन्त हतांस्तत्र पुत्रान् भ्रातृन् पितॄन् पतीन्॥ क्रव्यादैर्भक्ष्यमाणान् वै गोमायुबलवायसैः। भूतैः पिशाचै रक्षोभिर्विविधैश्च निशाचरैः॥
Having reached Kurukshetra, those widowed ladies beheld their killed their killed brothers and sons and sires and husbands lying on carth, as their bodies were being devoured by beasts of prey and wolves and ravens and crows and ghosts and Pishchas and Rakshasas and various other night-rangers.
रुद्राक्रीडनिभं दृष्ट्वा तदा विशसनं स्त्रियः। महाहेभ्योऽथ यानेभ्यो विक्रोशन्त्यो निपेतिरे॥
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। शरीरेष्वस्खलनन्याः पतन्त्यश्चापरा भुवि॥
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 नासीत् काचन चेतना। पाञ्चालकुरुयोषाणां कृपणं तदभून्महत्॥
Others became so stupefied that they lost their consciousness. Indeed, the Panchala and the Kuru ladies plunged into indescribable distress.
दुःखोपहतचित्ताभिः समन्तादनुनादितम्। दृष्ट्वाऽऽयोधनमत्युग्रं धर्मज्ञा सुबलात्मजा॥ ततः सा पुण्डरीकाक्षमामन्व्य पुरुषोत्तमम्। कुरूणां वैशसं दृष्ट्वा इदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ पश्यैताः पुण्डरीकाक्ष स्नुषा मे निहतेश्वराः। प्रकीर्णकेशा: क्रोशन्ती: कुररीरिव माधव॥
Seeing that dreadful field of battle filled on all sides with the cries of those grief-stricken ladies, the daughter of Subala, acquainted with all forms of duty, addressed the louts-eyed, Keshava that foremost of all men. Beholding that universal destruction of the Kurus and filled with grief at the sight, she said,-'Look, O lotus-eyed Mahadeva, at these daughters-inlaw of mine! Deprived of their husbands they are with dishevelled hair, crying piteously like a flight of she-ospreys.
अमूस्त्वभिसमागम्य स्मरन्त्यो भर्तृजान् गुणान्। पृथगेवाभ्यधावन्त्यः पुत्रान् भ्रातॄन् पितॄन् पतीन्॥
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.
वीरसूभिर्महाराज हतपुत्राभिरावृतम्। वचिच्च वीरपत्नीमिर्हतवीराभिरावृतम्॥
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 पुरुषव्याप्रैः कर्णभीष्माभिमन्युभिः। द्रोणद्रुपदशल्यैश्च ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः॥
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 कवचैर्निष्कर्मणिभिश्च महात्मनाम्। अङ्गदैर्हस्तकेयूरैःस्रग्भिश्च समलङ्कृतम्॥
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 परिधैरपि। खङ्गैश्च विविधैस्तीक्ष्णैः सशरैश्च शरासनैः॥
Behold, it is covered with darts and spikes discharged by heroic hands, and swords and various kinds of keen arrows and bows.
क्रव्यादसंधैर्मुदितैस्तिष्ठद्भिः सहितैः क्वचित्। वचिदाक्रीडमानैश्च शयानैश्चापरैः क्वचित्॥
Beasts of prey, in a body, are standing or sporting or lying down according to their pleasure.
एतदेवंविधं वीर सम्पश्यायोधनं विभो। पश्यमाना हि दह्यामि शोकेनाहं जनार्दन॥
Behold, O powerful hero, the field of battle in this state! At this sight, O Janarddana, I am burning with grief.
पञ्चालानां कुरूणां च विनाशे मधुसूदन। पञ्चानामपि भूतानामहं वधमचिन्तयम्॥
With the destruction of the Panchalas and the Kurus, O slayer of Madhu, I think, the five elements have been destroyed.
तान् सुपर्णाश्च गृध्राश्च कर्षयन्त्यसृगुक्षिताः। विगृह्य चरणैर्गध्रा भक्षयन्ति सहस्रशः॥
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॥
Who is there that could even imagine the death of such heroes as Jayadratha, Karna, Drona, Bhishma and Abhimanyu.
अवध्यकल्पान् निहतान् गतसत्त्वानचेतसः। गृध्रकङ्कवटश्येनश्वशृगालादनीकृतान्॥
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.
अमर्षवशमापन्नान् दुर्योधनवशे स्थितान्। पश्येमान् पुरुषव्याघ्रान् संशान्तान् पावकानिव॥
There, those foremost of men, who fought on Duryodhana's side, and went to the field in anger and now lying like extinguished fires.
शयाना ये परा सर्वे मृदूनि शयनानि च। विपन्नास्तेऽद्यं वसुधां विवृतामधिशेरते॥
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॥
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॥
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। आक्षिपन्ति शिवा घोरा विनदन्त्यः पुनः पुनः॥
These vultures, wolves and ravens are now their ornaments. Uttering again and again inauspicious and fierce cries, those creatures are now dragging their bodies.
बाणान् विनिशितान् पीतान् निस्त्रिंशान् विमला गदाः। युद्धाभिमानिनः सर्वे जीवन्त इव बिभ्रति॥
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। ऋषभप्रतिरूपाश्च शेरते हरितस्रजः॥
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 पुनरालिङ्गय गदाः परिघबाहवः। शेरतेऽभिमुखाः शूरा दयिता इव योषितः॥
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॥
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 सजश्चित्रा विप्रकीर्णाः समन्ततः॥
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। कण्ठान्तरगतान् हारानाक्षिपन्ति सहस्रशः॥
There, thousands of fierce wolves, are dragging the golden chains sound the necks of many illustrious but dead heroes.
सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु याननदन्त बन्दिनः। स्तुतिभिश्च पराया॑भिरुपचारैश्च शिक्षिताः॥ तानिमाः परिदेवन्ति दुःखार्ताः परमाङ्गनाः। कृपणं वृष्णिशार्दूल दुःखशोकार्दिता भृशम्॥
Many, whom clever bards formerly used with their hymns and panegyris, to delight every morning, are now surrounded by fair ladies stricken with grief and weeping and crying around them in distress, O foremost of Vrishni's race.
रक्तोत्पलवनानीव विभान्ति रुचिराणि च। मुखानि परमस्त्रीणां परिशुष्काणि केशव॥
The faces of those beautiful ladies, O Keshava, though pale, still shine like red lotuses.
रुदिताद् विरता ह्येता ध्यायन्त्यः सपरिच्छदाः। कुरुस्त्रियोऽभिगच्छन्ति तेन तेनैव दुःखिताः॥
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॥
The faces of those fair ladies have, with weeping and ire, become effulgent as the morning sun, or gold, or burnished copper.
श्यामानां वरवर्णानां गौरीणामेकवाससाम्। दुर्योधनवरस्त्रीणां पश्य वृन्दानि केशव॥
Hearing each other's unmeaning lamentations those ladies, on account of the loud cries of woe coming from every side, are unable to understand each other's meaning.
आसामपरिपूर्णार्थं निशम्य परिदेवितम्। इतरेतरसंक्रन्दान्न विजानन्ति योषितः॥
Some amongst them, heavily sighing and repeatedly bewailing, are stupefied by grief and are giving up their lives.
एता दीर्घमिवोच्छ्वस्य विक्रुश्य च विलष्य च। विस्पन्दमाना दुःखेन वीरा जहति जीवितम्॥
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.
बढ्यो दृष्ट्वा शरीराणि क्रोशन्ति विलपन्ति च। पाणिभिश्चापरा घ्नन्ति शिरांसि मृदुपाणयः॥
The Earth, filled with heaps of heads and hands and other limbs, the sights of destruction, looks resplendent.
शिरोभिः पतितैर्हस्तैः सर्वाङ्गै!थशः कृतैः। इतरेतरसम्पृक्तैराकीर्णा भाति मेदिनी॥
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 कायान् दृष्ट्वा ह्येताननिन्दितान्। मुह्यन्त्यनुगता नार्यो विदेहानि शिरांसि च॥ शिरः कायेन संधाय प्रेक्षमाणा विचेतसः। अपश्यन्त्योऽपरं तत्र नेदमस्येति दुःखिताः॥
Joining particular heads with particular trunks, those ladies, beside themselves with grief, are again discovering their mistakes, and saying,-This is not this one's—and are weeping more bitterly.
बाहूरुचरणानन्यान् विशिखोन्मथितान् पृथक्। संदधत्योऽसुखाविष्टा मूर्च्छन्त्येताः पुनः पुनः॥
Other, uniting arms and thighs and feet, cut off with arrows, are grieving and losing their consciousness repeatedly.
उत्कृत्तशिरसश्चान्यान् विजग्धान् मृगपक्षिभिः। दृष्ट्वा काश्चिन्न जानन्ति भर्तृन् भरतयोषितः॥
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 जन्ति शिरांसि मधुसूदन। प्रेक्ष्य भ्रातॄन् पितॄन् पुत्रान् पतींश्च निहतान् परैः॥
Others, seeing their brothers, sires, sons, and husbands killed by enemies, are, O slayer of Madhu, striking their heads with their own hands.
बाहुभिश्च सखङ्गैश्च शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः। अगम्यकल्पा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा॥
Covered with flesh and blood, the Earth has become impassable with arms still holding swords and with heads adorned with ear-rings.
न दुःखेषूचिताः पूर्वं दुखं गाहन्त्यनिन्दिताः। भ्रातृभिः पतिभिः पुत्रैरुपाकीर्णा वसुंधरा॥
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॥
Look, O Janarddana, at those Dhritarashtra's daughters-in-law, resembling a number of beautiful fillies adorned with excellent manes.
इतो दुःखतरं किं नु केशव प्रतिभाति मे। यदिमाः कुर्वते सर्वा रवमुच्चावचं स्त्रियः॥ नूनमाचरितं पापं मया पूर्वेषु जन्मसु। या पश्यामि हतान् पुत्रान् पौत्रान् भ्रातृ॑श्च माधव॥ एवमार्ता विलपती समाभाष्य जनार्दनम्। गान्धारी पुत्रशोकार्ता ददर्श निहतं सुतम्॥
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.
नूनमाचरितं पापं मया पूर्वेषु जन्मसु। या पश्यामि हतान् पुत्रान् पौत्रान् भ्रातृ॑श्च माधव॥ एवमार्ता विलपती समाभाष्य जनार्दनम्। गान्धारी पुत्रशोकार्ता ददर्श निहतं सुतम्॥
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.