Vyasa Offers a Boon; Dhritarashtra and Gandhari Ask to See the Dead

Verse 1 (15.31.1)

वनवासं गते विप्र धृतराष्ट्रे महीपतौ । सभार्ये नृपशार्दूले वध्वा कुन्त्या समन्विते ॥

vanavāsaṃ gate vipra dhṛtarāṣṭre mahīpatau | sabhārye nṛpaśārdūle vadhvā kuntyā samanvite

O brahmin, when King Dhritarashtra, that tiger among kings, had gone to live in the forest together with his wife and accompanied by his daughter-in-law Kunti,

Verse 2 (15.31.2)

विदुरे चापि धर्मज्ञे धर्मराजं व्यपाश्रिते । वसत्सु पाण्डुपुत्रेषु सर्वेष्वाश्रममण्डले ॥

vidure cāpi dharmajñe dharmarājaṃ vyapāśrite | vasatsu pāṇḍuputreṣu sarveṣvāśramamaṇḍale

and when Vidura, the knower of dharma, had taken refuge in the king of dharma, and all the sons of Pandu were dwelling in the circle of the hermitage,

Note on the text: Corrected व्यपश्रिते → व्यपाश्रिते (misprint in Wikisource; the form व्यपश्रित is not a word; CE reads 'vyapāśrite').

Verse 3 (15.31.3)

यत्तदाश्चर्यमिति वै करिष्यामीत्युवाच ह । व्यासः परमतेजस्वी महर्षिस्तद्वदस्व मे ॥

yattadāścaryamiti vai kariṣyāmītyuvāca ha | vyāsaḥ paramatejasvī maharṣistadvadasva me

then the greatly radiant great sage Vyasa said, "I shall perform that marvel." Tell me of that.

Verse 4 (15.31.4)

वनवासे च कौरव्यः कियन्तं कालमच्युतः । युधिष्ठिरो नरपतिर्न्यवसत्सजनस्तदा ॥

vanavāse ca kauravyaḥ kiyantaṃ kālamacyutaḥ | yudhiṣṭhiro narapatirnyavasatsajanastadā

And for how long, then, did King Yudhishthira the Kaurava, the unfallen, live in the forest together with his people?

Note on the text: Corrected कौरव्याः → कौरव्यः (misprint in Wikisource; spurious ā; the word qualifies Yudhishthira, CE reads 'kauravyaḥ').

Verse 5 (15.31.5)

किमाहाराश्च ते तत्र ससैन्या न्यवसन्प्रभो । सान्तःपुरा महात्मान एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

kimāhārāśca te tatra sasainyā nyavasanprabho | sāntaḥpurā mahātmāna etadicchāmi veditum

On what food did those great-souled ones live there, O lord, with their troops and their women's quarters? This I wish to know.

Verse 6 (15.31.6)

वनवासगतं राजन्धृतराष्ट्रं महीपतिम् । युधिष्ठिरोऽभ्ययाद्द्रष्टुं ससैन्यो भ्रातृभिः सह ॥

vanavāsagataṃ rājandhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahīpatim | yudhiṣṭhiro'bhyayāddraṣṭuṃ sasainyo bhrātṛbhiḥ saha

O king, Yudhishthira went with his army and his brothers to see King Dhritarashtra, who had gone to live in the forest.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick / quote marks / doubled danda). Not in the numbered text of the critical edition: star passage 15,036.006*0061_01-02 (before 15,036.006a).

Verse 7 (15.31.7)

प्रथमे दिवसे चैषामापो मूलं फलं तथा । भोजनं भूमिशय्या च तत्रासीद्भरतर्षभ ॥

prathame divase caiṣāmāpo mūlaṃ phalaṃ tathā | bhojanaṃ bhūmiśayyā ca tatrāsīdbharatarṣabha

On their first day, O best of the Bharatas, they had only water, roots and fruit for food, and the bare ground for a bed.

Note on the text: Not in the numbered text of the critical edition: star passage 15,036.006*0061_03-04.

Verse 8 (15.31.8)

तेऽनुज्ञातास्तदा राजन्कुरुराजेन पाण्डवाः । विविधान्यन्नपानानि शय्याश्चैवाभजन्वने ॥

te'nujñātāstadā rājankururājena pāṇḍavāḥ | vividhānyannapānāni śayyāścaivābhajanvane

Then, O king, with the leave of the king of the Kurus, the Pandavas enjoyed in the forest all kinds of food and drink and couches.

Note on the text: Second line differs from CE 15,036.006c (vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (15.31.9)

मासमेकं विजह्रुस्ते ससैन्यान्तःपुरो वने । अथ तत्रागमद्व्यासो यथोक्तं ते मयाऽनघ ॥

māsamekaṃ vijahruste sasainyāntaḥpuro vane | atha tatrāgamadvyāso yathoktaṃ te mayā'nagha

For a month they roamed at ease in the forest, with their army and women's quarters. Then Vyasa came there, as I have already told you, O sinless one.

Verse 10 (15.31.10)

तथा च तेषां सर्वेषां कथाभिर्नृपसन्निधौ । व्यासन्वास्य तं राजन्नाजग्मुर्मुनयोऽपरे ॥

tathā ca teṣāṃ sarveṣāṃ kathābhirnṛpasannidhau | vyāsanvāsya taṃ rājannājagmurmunayo'pare

And while they were all engaged in talk in the king's presence, and Vyasa sat among them, O king, other sages also arrived.

Verse 11 (15.31.11)

नारदः पर्वतश्चैव देवलश्च महातपाः । विश्वावसुस्तुंबुरुश्च चित्रसेनश्च भारत ॥

nāradaḥ parvataścaiva devalaśca mahātapāḥ | viśvāvasustuṃburuśca citrasenaśca bhārata

They were Narada, Parvata, and Devala of great austerity, Vishvavasu, Tumburu, and Chitrasena, O Bharata.

Verse 12 (15.31.12)

तेषामपि यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रे महातपाः । धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञातः कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

teṣāmapi yathānyāyaṃ pūjāṃ cakre mahātapāḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭrābhyanujñātaḥ kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

With Dhritarashtra's leave, Yudhishthira, king of the Kurus, a great ascetic himself, duly paid honour to them as well.

Note on the text: Corrected कुरराजो → कुरुराजो (misprint in Wikisource; कुरराज is not a title here; CE reads 'kururājo').

Verse 13 (15.31.13)

निषेदुस्ते ततः सर्वे पूजां प्राप्य युधिष्ठिरात् । आसनेषु च पुण्येषु बर्हिणेषु वरेषु च ॥

niṣeduste tataḥ sarve pūjāṃ prāpya yudhiṣṭhirāt | āsaneṣu ca puṇyeṣu barhiṇeṣu vareṣu ca

Having received honour from Yudhishthira, they all sat down on holy, excellent seats spread with soft feather-down cushions.

Note on the text: Corrected वरेषउ → वरेषु (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE reads 'vareṣu').

Verse 14 (15.31.14)

तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु स तु राजा महामतिः । पाण्डुपुत्रैः परिवृतो निषसाद कुरूद्वह ॥

teṣu tatropaviṣṭeṣu sa tu rājā mahāmatiḥ | pāṇḍuputraiḥ parivṛto niṣasāda kurūdvaha

When they had taken their seats there, the wise king (Dhritarashtra), surrounded by the sons of Pandu, sat down, O scion of the Kurus.

Verse 15 (15.31.15)

गान्धारी चैव कुन्ती च द्रौपदी सात्वती तथा । स्त्रियश्चान्यास्तथाऽन्याभिः सहोपविविशुस्ततः ॥

gāndhārī caiva kuntī ca draupadī sātvatī tathā | striyaścānyāstathā'nyābhiḥ sahopaviviśustataḥ

Gandhari, Kunti, Draupadi and the Satvati lady, and the other women, then sat down together with their companions.

Verse 16 (15.31.16)

तेषां तत्र कथा दिव्या धर्मिष्ठाश्चाभवन्नृप । राजर्षीणां पुराणानां देवासुरविमिश्रिताः ॥

teṣāṃ tatra kathā divyā dharmiṣṭhāścābhavannṛpa | rājarṣīṇāṃ purāṇānāṃ devāsuravimiśritāḥ

Divine and righteous talk went on among them there, O king, about the royal sages of old, mingled with tales of the gods and asuras.

Note on the text: Corrected देवासुरविभिश्रिताः → देवासुरविमिश्रिताः (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; CE reads 'devāsuravimiśritāḥ').

Verse 17 (15.31.17)

ततः कथान्ते व्यासस्तं प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम् । प्रोवाच वदतांश्रेष्ठः पुनरेव स तद्वचः ॥

tataḥ kathānte vyāsastaṃ prajñācakṣuṣamīśvaram | provāca vadatāṃśreṣṭhaḥ punareva sa tadvacaḥ

Then, when the talk had come to an end, Vyasa, best of speakers, spoke again to that lord who sees with the eye of wisdom (the blind king).

Note on the text: Lines a-b = CE 15,036.015a,c.

Verse 18 (15.31.18)

प्रीयमाणो महातेजाः सर्ववेदविदांवरः । विदितं मम राजेन्द्र यत्ते हृदि विवक्षितम् ॥

prīyamāṇo mahātejāḥ sarvavedavidāṃvaraḥ | viditaṃ mama rājendra yatte hṛdi vivakṣitam

Pleased, greatly radiant, foremost of all who know the Vedas, he said: "O king of kings, I know what you wish to say in your heart.

Note on the text: Line a = CE 15,036.015e; line b = CE 15,036.016a. The second line is the opening of Vyasa's speech (narration and speech share the verse; kept with the narrator).

Verse 19 (15.31.19)

दह्यमानस्य शोकेन तव पुत्रकृतेन वै । गान्धार्याश्चैव यद्दुःखं हृदि तिष्ठति नित्यदा ॥

dahyamānasya śokena tava putrakṛtena vai | gāndhāryāścaiva yadduḥkhaṃ hṛdi tiṣṭhati nityadā

The burning grief you feel over what your son did, and the sorrow that dwells ever in Gandhari's heart,

Note on the text: Corrected तिष्टति → तिष्ठति (misprint in Wikisource; ट for ठ; CE reads 'tiṣṭhati'). Spoken by Vyasa (no heading on the page; continuation of his speech). Line a = CE 15,036.016c; line b = CE 15,036.017a (variant ending).

Verse 20 (15.31.20)

कुन्त्याश्च यन्महाराज द्रौपद्याश्च हृदि स्थितम् । यच्च धारयते तीव्रं दुःखं पुत्रविनाशजम् । सुभद्रा कृष्णभगिनी तच्चापि विदितं मम ॥

kuntyāśca yanmahārāja draupadyāśca hṛdi sthitam | yacca dhārayate tīvraṃ duḥkhaṃ putravināśajam | subhadrā kṛṣṇabhaginī taccāpi viditaṃ mama

and what lies in the hearts of Kunti and of Draupadi, O great king, and the fierce sorrow over the loss of sons that Subhadra, Krishna's sister, bears — all this too is known to me.

Note on the text: Spoken by Vyasa (no heading on the page). Three-line verse = CE 15,036.017c, 018a, 018c.

Verse 21 (15.31.21)

श्रुत्वा समागममिमं सर्वेषां वस्ततो नृप । संशयच्छेदनार्थाय प्राप्तः कौरवनन्दन ॥

śrutvā samāgamamimaṃ sarveṣāṃ vastato nṛpa | saṃśayacchedanārthāya prāptaḥ kauravanandana

Hearing that all of you had gathered here, O king, I have come to dispel your doubts, O joy of the Kauravas.

Note on the text: Spoken by Vyasa (no heading on the page).

Verse 22 (15.31.22)

इमे च देवगन्धर्वाः सर्वे चेमे महर्षयः । पश्यन्तु तपसो वीर्यमद्य मे चिरसम्भृतम् ॥

ime ca devagandharvāḥ sarve ceme maharṣayaḥ | paśyantu tapaso vīryamadya me cirasambhṛtam

Let these gods and gandharvas and all these great sages witness today the power of my austerity, stored up over a long time.

Note on the text: Spoken by Vyasa (no heading on the page).

Verse 23 (15.31.23)

तदुच्यतां महाप्राज्ञ कं कामं प्रददामि ते । प्रवणोस्मि वरं दातुं पश्य मे तपसो बलम् ॥

taducyatāṃ mahāprājña kaṃ kāmaṃ pradadāmi te | pravaṇosmi varaṃ dātuṃ paśya me tapaso balam

So tell me, O wise one: what wish shall I grant you? I am ready to give a boon. See the strength of my austerity."

Note on the text: Spoken by Vyasa (no heading on the page).

Verse 24 (15.31.24)

एवमुक्तः स राजेन्द्रो व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना । मुहूर्तमिव संचिन्त्य वचनायोपचक्रमे ॥

evamuktaḥ sa rājendro vyāsenāmitabuddhinā | muhūrtamiva saṃcintya vacanāyopacakrame

Thus addressed by Vyasa of boundless intellect, that best of kings reflected for a moment, as it were, and began to speak.

Verse 25 (15.31.25)

धन्योस्म्यनुगृहीतश्च सफलं जीवितं च मे । यन्मे समागमोऽद्येह भवद्भिः सह साधुभिः ॥

dhanyosmyanugṛhītaśca saphalaṃ jīvitaṃ ca me | yanme samāgamo'dyeha bhavadbhiḥ saha sādhubhiḥ

"I am blessed and favoured; my life has borne fruit, since today I have met here with you holy ones.

Note on the text: Spoken by Dhritarashtra (no heading on the page; the speech runs to verse 37).

Verse 26 (15.31.26)

अद्य चाप्यवगच्छामि गतिमिष्टामिहात्मनः । ब्रह्मकल्पैर्भवद्भिर्यत्समेतोऽहं तपोधनाः ॥

adya cāpyavagacchāmi gatimiṣṭāmihātmanaḥ | brahmakalpairbhavadbhiryatsameto'haṃ tapodhanāḥ

Today I also understand the destination I desire for myself, since I have come together with you, O ascetics, who are like Brahma.

Verse 27 (15.31.27)

दर्शनादेव भवतां पूतोऽहं नात्र संशयः । विद्यते न भयं चापि परलोके ममानघाः ॥

darśanādeva bhavatāṃ pūto'haṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | vidyate na bhayaṃ cāpi paraloke mamānaghāḥ

By the mere sight of you I am purified; of this there is no doubt. Nor do I have any fear of the other world, O sinless ones.

Verse 28 (15.31.28)

किंतु तस्य सुदुर्बुद्धेर्मन्दस्यापनयैर्भृशम् । दूयते मे मनो नित्यं स्मरतः पुत्रगृद्धिनः ॥

kiṃtu tasya sudurbuddhermandasyāpanayairbhṛśam | dūyate me mano nityaṃ smarataḥ putragṛddhinaḥ

But my mind is tormented always, remembering the grievous wrongs of that ill-minded fool, and I was so greedy for my son.

Verse 29 (15.31.29)

अपापाः पाण्डवा येन निकृताः पापबुद्धिना । घातिता पृथिवी येन सहया सनरद्विपा ॥

apāpāḥ pāṇḍavā yena nikṛtāḥ pāpabuddhinā | ghātitā pṛthivī yena sahayā sanaradvipā

By that evil-minded one the blameless Pandavas were cheated, and by him the earth, with its horses, men and elephants, was destroyed.

Verse 30 (15.31.30)

राजानश्च महात्मानो नानाजनपदेश्वराः । आगम्य मम पुत्रार्थे सर्वे मृत्युवशं गताः ॥

rājānaśca mahātmāno nānājanapadeśvarāḥ | āgamya mama putrārthe sarve mṛtyuvaśaṃ gatāḥ

And great-souled kings, lords of many realms, came for my son's sake and all fell into the power of death,

Verse 31 (15.31.31)

ये ते पितॄंश्च दारांश्च प्राणांश्च मनसः प्रियान् । परित्यज्य गताः शूराः प्रेतराजनिवेशनम् ॥

ye te pitṝṃśca dārāṃśca prāṇāṃśca manasaḥ priyān | parityajya gatāḥ śūrāḥ pretarājaniveśanam

those heroes who gave up their fathers, their wives and their dear lives and went to the abode of the king of the dead.

Note on the text: Corrected पितॄश्चं → पितॄंश्च (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara on the wrong letter; CE has 'putrāṃś ca' here, but पितॄन् 'fathers' is a possible reading and the Wikisource word is kept).

Verse 32 (15.31.32)

का नु तेषां गतिर्ब्रह्मन्मित्रार्थे ये हता मृधे । तथैव पुत्रपौत्राणां मम ये निहता युधि ॥

kā nu teṣāṃ gatirbrahmanmitrārthe ye hatā mṛdhe | tathaiva putrapautrāṇāṃ mama ye nihatā yudhi

What is the destination, O brahmin, of those who were slain in battle for the sake of a friend, and likewise of my sons and grandsons who were killed in the fight?

Verse 33 (15.31.33)

दूयते मे मनोऽभीक्ष्णं घातयित्वा महाबलम् । भीष्मं शान्तनवं वृद्धं द्रोणं च द्विजसत्तमम् ॥

dūyate me mano'bhīkṣṇaṃ ghātayitvā mahābalam | bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ vṛddhaṃ droṇaṃ ca dvijasattamam

My mind is tormented again and again at having caused the death of the mighty Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the aged, and of Drona, best of brahmins,

Verse 34 (15.31.34)

मम पुत्रेण मूढेन पापेनाकृतबुद्धिना । क्षयं नीतं कुलं दीप्तं पृथिवीराज्यमिच्छता ॥

mama putreṇa mūḍhena pāpenākṛtabuddhinā | kṣayaṃ nītaṃ kulaṃ dīptaṃ pṛthivīrājyamicchatā

by my foolish, sinful son of untrained mind, who in his wish for the kingdom of the earth brought a shining family to ruin.

Verse 35 (15.31.35)

एते मदर्थे पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च मनसः प्रियान् । भोगांश्च विविधांस्तात इष्टापूर्तांस्तथैव च । परित्यज्य गताः शूराः प्रेतराजनिवेशनम् ॥

ete madarthe putrāṃśca dārāṃśca manasaḥ priyān | bhogāṃśca vividhāṃstāta iṣṭāpūrtāṃstathaiva ca | parityajya gatāḥ śūrāḥ pretarājaniveśanam

For my sake these heroes gave up their sons, their wives dear to the heart, and many kinds of enjoyment, and, my dear sir, the merit of sacrifices and pious works, and went to the abode of the king of the dead.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick / quote marks / doubled danda). Corrected इष्टापुर्तां → इष्टापूर्तां (misprint in Wikisource; short u for ū; CE reads 'iṣṭāpūrtān' in the matching line). Three-line verse. A variant of CE 15,036.029 (cf. verse 31): line 1 is a vulgate reading of 029a ('एते मदर्थे …'), line 2 is CE star line 15,036.029b*0063_01, line 3 = 029c. Not a numbered verse of the critical edition. Wikisource printed it in backticks and closing quote marks, which are removed.

Verse 36 (15.31.36)

एतत्सर्वमनुस्मृत्य दह्यमानो दिवानिशम् । न शान्तिमधिगच्छामि दुःखशोकसमाहतः ॥

etatsarvamanusmṛtya dahyamāno divāniśam | na śāntimadhigacchāmi duḥkhaśokasamāhataḥ

Remembering all this, burning day and night, struck down by sorrow and grief, I find no peace.

Verse 37 (15.31.37)

इति मे चिन्तयानस्य पितः शान्तिर्न विद्यते ॥

iti me cintayānasya pitaḥ śāntirna vidyate

So, father, as I brood on these things, there is no peace for me."

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed (15-31-37a). = CE 15,036.033e (CE reads 'śarma' for 'शान्तिः').

Verse 38 (15.31.38)

तच्छ्रुत्वा विविधं तस्य राजर्षेः परिदेवितम् । पुनर्नवीकृतः शोको गान्धार्या जनमेजय ॥

tacchrutvā vividhaṃ tasya rājarṣeḥ paridevitam | punarnavīkṛtaḥ śoko gāndhāryā janamejaya

Hearing that manifold lament of the royal sage, Gandhari's grief was made new again, O Janamejaya,

Verse 39 (15.31.39)

कुन्त्या द्रुपदपुत्र्याश्च सुभद्रायास्तथैव च । तासां च वरनारीणां वधूनां कौरवस्य ह ॥

kuntyā drupadaputryāśca subhadrāyāstathaiva ca | tāsāṃ ca varanārīṇāṃ vadhūnāṃ kauravasya ha

and so was that of Kunti, of Drupada's daughter, and of Subhadra, and of those noble women, the daughters-in-law of the Kaurava.

Verse 40 (15.31.40)

पुत्रशोकसमाविष्टा गान्धारी त्विदमब्रवीत् । श्वशुरं बद्धनयना देवी प्राञ्जलिरुत्थिता ॥

putraśokasamāviṣṭā gāndhārī tvidamabravīt | śvaśuraṃ baddhanayanā devī prāñjalirutthitā

Overcome by grief for her sons, Gandhari, her eyes bound, rose with joined palms and spoke these words to her father-in-law.

Verse 41 (15.31.41)

लोकान्तरगतान्पुत्रानयं काङ्क्षति मानद । तच्चास्य मानसं ज्ञातं भगवंस्तपसा त्वया ॥

lokāntaragatānputrānayaṃ kāṅkṣati mānada | taccāsya mānasaṃ jñātaṃ bhagavaṃstapasā tvayā

"This king longs for his sons who have gone to other worlds, O giver of honour; and that wish of his mind is known to you, venerable one, through your austerity.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick / quote marks / doubled danda). Corrected मासं → मानसं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped न; मास 'month' makes no sense, the CE star line reads 'mānasaṃ'). Not in the numbered text of the critical edition: star passage 15,037.003d*0064_01-02. Wikisource printed it in backticks and closing quote marks, which are removed.

Verse 42 (15.31.42)

षोडशेमानि वर्षाणि गतानि मुनिपुङ्गव । अस्य राज्ञोहतान्पुत्राञ्शोचतो न शमो विभो ॥

ṣoḍaśemāni varṣāṇi gatāni munipuṅgava | asya rājñohatānputrāñśocato na śamo vibho

Sixteen years have passed, O foremost of sages, and this king, grieving for his slain sons, has found no calm, O lord.

Verse 43 (15.31.43)

पुत्रशोकसमाविष्टो निःश्वसन्ह्येष भूमिपः । न शेते वसतीः सर्वा धृतराष्ट्रो महामुने ॥

putraśokasamāviṣṭo niḥśvasanhyeṣa bhūmipaḥ | na śete vasatīḥ sarvā dhṛtarāṣṭro mahāmune

Filled with grief for his sons, sighing, this king Dhritarashtra has not slept through all these nights, O great sage.

Verse 44 (15.31.44)

लोकानन्यान्समर्थोसि स्रष्टुं सर्वांस्तपोबलात् । किमु लोकान्तरगतान्राज्ञो दर्शयितुं सुतान् ॥

lokānanyānsamarthosi sraṣṭuṃ sarvāṃstapobalāt | kimu lokāntaragatānrājño darśayituṃ sutān

By the power of your austerity you are able to create entire other worlds; how much more, then, to show the king his sons who have gone to another world?

Verse 45 (15.31.45)

इयं च द्रौपदी कृष्णा हतज्ञातिसुता भृशम् । शोचत्यतीव सर्वासां स्नुषाणां दयिता स्नुषा ॥

iyaṃ ca draupadī kṛṣṇā hatajñātisutā bhṛśam | śocatyatīva sarvāsāṃ snuṣāṇāṃ dayitā snuṣā

And this Draupadi, Krishna, who has lost her kin and her sons, grieves bitterly, the beloved one among all the daughters-in-law.

Note on the text: Second line differs from CE 15,037.007c (vulgate recension).

Verse 46 (15.31.46)

तथा कृष्णस्य भगिनी सुभद्रा भद्रभाषिणी । सौभद्रवधसंतप्ता भृशं शोचति भामिनी ॥

tathā kṛṣṇasya bhaginī subhadrā bhadrabhāṣiṇī | saubhadravadhasaṃtaptā bhṛśaṃ śocati bhāminī

So too Subhadra, Krishna's sister, of gentle speech, grieves bitterly, tormented by the slaying of Saubhadra.

Note on the text: Corrected सौभद्रकवध → सौभद्रवध (misprint in Wikisource; stray क (it spoils the metre); CE reads 'saubhadravadha').

Verse 47 (15.31.47)

इयं च भूरिश्रवसो भार्या परमसम्मता । भर्तृव्यसनशोकार्ता भृशं शोचति भामिनी ॥

iyaṃ ca bhūriśravaso bhāryā paramasammatā | bhartṛvyasanaśokārtā bhṛśaṃ śocati bhāminī

And this wife of Bhurishravas, held in the highest regard, afflicted by grief for her husband's calamity, grieves bitterly.

Note on the text: Variant of CE 15,037.009 ('paramaduḥkhitā … na śete vasatīḥ prabho'); the Wikisource lines are a different wording of the same thought.

Verse 48 (15.31.48)

यस्यास्तु श्वशुरो धीमान्बाह्लिकः स कुरूद्वहः । निहतः सोमदत्तश्च पित्रा सह महारणे ॥

yasyāstu śvaśuro dhīmānbāhlikaḥ sa kurūdvahaḥ | nihataḥ somadattaśca pitrā saha mahāraṇe

Her father-in-law was the wise Bahlika, that scion of the Kurus, and Somadatta too was slain in the great battle together with his father.

Verse 49 (15.31.49)

श्रीमतोस्य महाबुद्धेः सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनः । पुत्रस्य ते पुत्रशतं निहतं यद्रणाजिरे ॥

śrīmatosya mahābuddheḥ saṅgrāmeṣvapalāyinaḥ | putrasya te putraśataṃ nihataṃ yadraṇājire

Of this glorious and wise son of yours, who never fled from battle, a hundred sons were slain on the field.

Verse 50 (15.31.50)

तस्य भार्याशतमिदं दुःखशोकसमाहतम् । पुनःपुनर्वर्धयानं शोकं राज्ञो ममैव च । हताहारेण महता मामुपास्ते महामुने ॥

tasya bhāryāśatamidaṃ duḥkhaśokasamāhatam | punaḥpunarvardhayānaṃ śokaṃ rājño mamaiva ca | hatāhāreṇa mahatā māmupāste mahāmune

His hundred wives here, struck by grief and sorrow, again and again swelling the grief of the king and my own, wait upon me, O great sage, in great distress, their food given up.

Note on the text: Corrected रोज्ञो → राज्ञो (misprint in Wikisource; vowel misprint; CE reads 'rājño'). Three-line verse = CE 15,037.012a,c,e; line 3 differs from CE ('tenārambheṇa mahatā'): 'हताहारेण' is read here as 'with food given up'.

Verse 51 (15.31.51)

ये च शूरा महात्मानः श्वशुरा मे महारथाः । सोमदत्तप्रभृतयः का नु तेषां गतिः प्रभो ॥

ye ca śūrā mahātmānaḥ śvaśurā me mahārathāḥ | somadattaprabhṛtayaḥ kā nu teṣāṃ gatiḥ prabho

And what is the destination, O lord, of those brave, great-souled, great chariot-warriors who were my fathers-in-law, Somadatta and the rest?

Note on the text: 'श्वशुरा मे' ("my fathers-in-law") is as printed; the page keeps Gandhari as speaker.

Verse 52 (15.31.52)

तव प्रसादाद्भगवन्विशोकोऽयं महीपतिः । कुर्यात्कालमहं चेयं वधूस्तव महामुने ॥

tava prasādādbhagavanviśoko'yaṃ mahīpatiḥ | kuryātkālamahaṃ ceyaṃ vadhūstava mahāmune

By your grace, venerable one, may this king be free from sorrow, and may I and this daughter-in-law of yours pass our time without grief."

Note on the text: Variant of CE 15,037.014c-d (CE: 'kuryāt kālam ahaṃ caiva kuntī ceyaṃ vadhūs tava').

Verse 53 (15.31.53)

इत्युक्तवत्यां गान्धार्यां कुन्ती व्रतकृशानना । प्रच्छन्नजातं पुत्रं तु सस्मारादित्यसन्निभम् ॥

ityuktavatyāṃ gāndhāryāṃ kuntī vratakṛśānanā | pracchannajātaṃ putraṃ tu sasmārādityasannibham

When Gandhari had spoken thus, Kunti, her face thin from her vows, remembered her son born in secret, radiant as the sun.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रच्चन्नजातं → प्रच्छन्नजातं (misprint in Wikisource; च्च for च्छ; CE reads 'pracchannajātaṃ').

Verse 54 (15.31.54)

तामृषिर्वरदो व्यासो दूरश्रवणदर्शनः । अपश्यद्दुःखितां देवीं मातरं सव्यसाचिनः ॥

tāmṛṣirvarado vyāso dūraśravaṇadarśanaḥ | apaśyadduḥkhitāṃ devīṃ mātaraṃ savyasācinaḥ

The sage Vyasa, giver of boons, who could see and hear from afar, saw that sorrowing lady, the mother of Savyasachin.

Verse 55 (15.31.55)

तामुवाच ततो व्यासो यत्ते कार्यं विवक्षितम् । तद्बूहि त्वं महाभागे यत्ते मनसि वर्तते ॥

tāmuvāca tato vyāso yatte kāryaṃ vivakṣitam | tadbūhi tvaṃ mahābhāge yatte manasi vartate

Then Vyasa said to her, "Say what you wish to have done; tell it, O fortunate one, whatever is in your mind."

Note on the text: Line a is narration, line b is Vyasa's speech (shared verse; kept with the narrator).

Verse 56 (15.31.56)

श्वशुराय ततः कुन्ती प्रणम्य शिरसा तदा । उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा विवृण्वाना पुरातनम् ॥

śvaśurāya tataḥ kuntī praṇamya śirasā tadā | uvāca vākyaṃ savrīḍā vivṛṇvānā purātanam

Then Kunti, bowing her head to her father-in-law, ashamed, began to speak, bringing to light an ancient secret.

Note on the text: Corrected तत कुन्ती → ततः कुन्ती (misprint in Wikisource; visarga dropped; CE reads 'tataḥ kuntī').