Gandhari Surveys the Battlefield

Verse 1 (11.16.1)

एवमुक्त्वा तु गान्धारी कुरूणामवकर्तनम् । अपश्यत्तत्र तिष्ठन्ती सर्वं तत्र यथास्थितम् ॥

evamuktvā tu gāndhārī kurūṇāmavakartanam | apaśyattatra tiṣṭhantī sarvaṃ tatra yathāsthitam

Having spoken thus, Gandhari, standing there, saw the whole field where the Kurus had been cut down, just as it lay.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 11.16.1 (CE tato for evam uktvā tu in line 1; line 2 CE apaśyat tatra tiṣṭhantī sarvaṃ divyena cakṣuṣā), kept. Page note: सर्वं दिव्येन चक्षुषेति झ.पाठः.

Verse 2 (11.16.2)

पतिव्रता महाभागा समानव्रतचारिणी । उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता सततं सत्यवादिनी ॥

pativratā mahābhāgā samānavratacāriṇī | ugreṇa tapasā yuktā satataṃ satyavādinī

She was devoted to her husband, greatly fortunate, following the same vows as he, endowed with fierce austerity, and ever truthful in speech.

Verse 3 (11.16.3)

वरदानेन कृष्णस्य महर्षेः पुण्यकर्मणः । दिव्यज्ञानबलोपेता विविधं पर्यदेवयत् ॥

varadānena kṛṣṇasya maharṣeḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ | divyajñānabalopetā vividhaṃ paryadevayat

By the boon of the great sage Krishna of holy deeds, she had the power of divine knowledge, and she lamented in many ways.

Verse 4 (11.16.4)

ददर्श सा बुद्धिमती दूरादपि यथाऽन्तिके । रणाजिरं तद्वीराणामद्भुतं रोमहर्षणम् ॥

dadarśa sā buddhimatī dūrādapi yathā'ntike | raṇājiraṃ tadvīrāṇāmadbhutaṃ romaharṣaṇam

That wise woman saw, though far away, as if it were close at hand, the wondrous, hair-raising battlefield of the heroes.

Verse 5 (11.16.5)

अस्थिकेशवसाकीर्णं शोणितौघपरिप्लुतम् । शरीरैर्बहुसाहस्रैर्विनिकीर्णं समन्ततः ॥

asthikeśavasākīrṇaṃ śoṇitaughapariplutam | śarīrairbahusāhasrairvinikīrṇaṃ samantataḥ

It was strewn with bones, hair and fat, drenched in floods of blood, and covered all around with many thousands of bodies.

Verse 6 (11.16.6)

गजाश्वरथयोधानामावृतं रुधिराविलैः । शरीरैरशिरस्कैश्च विदेहैश्च शिरोगणैः ॥

gajāśvarathayodhānāmāvṛtaṃ rudhirāvilaiḥ | śarīrairaśiraskaiśca videhaiśca śirogaṇaiḥ

It was filled with the blood-smeared bodies of elephant-, horse- and chariot-warriors, with headless trunks and with heaps of heads without bodies.

Verse 7 (11.16.7)

गजाश्वनरवीराणां निःसत्वैरभिसंवृतम् । सृगालवलगोमायुकङ्ककाकनिषेवितम् ॥

gajāśvanaravīrāṇāṃ niḥsatvairabhisaṃvṛtam | sṛgālavalagomāyukaṅkakākaniṣevitam

It was overrun by the lifeless bodies of elephant-riders, horsemen and heroes, and thronged with jackals, vala-birds, foxes, kankas and crows.

Verse 8 (11.16.8)

रक्षसां पुरुषादानां मोदनं कुरराकुलम् । अशिवाभिः शिवाभिश्च नादितं गृध्रसेवितम् ॥

rakṣasāṃ puruṣādānāṃ modanaṃ kurarākulam | aśivābhiḥ śivābhiśca nāditaṃ gṛdhrasevitam

It was a delight to the man-eating rakshasas, swarming with ospreys, resounding with ill-omened beasts and she-jackals, and haunted by vultures.

Note on the text: Corrected पुरुषादाना → पुरुषादानां (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara dropped; CE 11.16.8a rakṣasāṃ puruṣādānāṃ).

Verse 9 (11.16.9)

ततो व्यासाभ्यनुज्ञातो धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः । पाण्डुपुत्राश्च ते सर्वे युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः ॥

tato vyāsābhyanujñāto dhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ | pāṇḍuputrāśca te sarve yudhiṣṭhirapurogamāḥ

Then, with Vyasa's leave, King Dhritarashtra and all the sons of Pandu, with Yudhishthira at their head,

Verse 10 (11.16.10)

वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य हतबन्धुं च पार्थिवम् । कुरुस्त्रियः समादाय जग्मुरायोधनं प्रति ॥

vāsudevaṃ puraskṛtya hatabandhuṃ ca pārthivam | kurustriyaḥ samādāya jagmurāyodhanaṃ prati

putting Vasudeva and the king who had lost his kin before them, took the Kuru women and went towards the battlefield.

Verse 11 (11.16.11)

समासाद्य कुरुक्षेत्रं ताः स्त्रियो निहतेश्वराः । अपश्यन्त हतांस्तत्र पुत्रान्भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पतीन् ॥

samāsādya kurukṣetraṃ tāḥ striyo nihateśvarāḥ | apaśyanta hatāṃstatra putrānbhrātṝnpitṝnpatīn

Reaching Kurukshetra, those women, whose lords had been slain, saw their sons, brothers, fathers and husbands lying dead there,

Verse 12 (11.16.12)

क्रव्यादैर्भक्ष्यमाणांश्च गोमायुवलवायसैः । भूतैः पिशाचै रक्षोभिर्विविधैश्च निशाचरैः ॥

kravyādairbhakṣyamāṇāṃśca gomāyuvalavāyasaiḥ | bhūtaiḥ piśācai rakṣobhirvividhaiśca niśācaraiḥ

being devoured by flesh-eaters, by jackals, vala-birds and crows, by ghosts, pishachas, rakshasas and many kinds of night-roamers.

Verse 13 (11.16.13)

रुद्राक्रीडनिभं दृष्ट्वा तदा विशसनं स्त्रियः । कुरर्य इव शोकार्ता विक्रोशन्त्यो निपेतिरे ॥

rudrākrīḍanibhaṃ dṛṣṭvā tadā viśasanaṃ striyaḥ | kurarya iva śokārtā vikrośantyo nipetire

Seeing that place of slaughter, like the playground of Rudra, the women cried out like grieving ospreys and fell to the ground.

Verse 14 (11.16.14)

अदृष्टपूर्वं पश्यन्त्यो दुःखार्ता भरतस्त्रियः । शरीरेषु स्खलन्त्यश्च न्यपतंश्च परासुवत् ॥

adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ paśyantyo duḥkhārtā bharatastriyaḥ | śarīreṣu skhalantyaśca nyapataṃśca parāsuvat

Seeing what they had never seen before, the Bharata women, afflicted with sorrow, stumbled over the bodies, and some fell to the ground as if lifeless.

Note on the text: Corrected पशन्त्यो → पश्यन्त्यो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped य्; CE 11.16.14a paśyantyo).

Verse 15 (11.16.15)

श्रान्तानां चाप्यनाथानां क्रन्दन्तीनां भृशं तदा । पाञ्चालकुरुयोषाणां कृपणं तदभून्महत् ॥

śrāntānāṃ cāpyanāthānāṃ krandantīnāṃ bhṛśaṃ tadā | pāñcālakuruyoṣāṇāṃ kṛpaṇaṃ tadabhūnmahat

The sight of the Panchala and Kuru women, exhausted, helpless and crying out loud, was great and pitiable then.

Verse 16 (11.16.16)

दुःखोपहतचित्ताभिः समन्तादनुनादितम् । दृष्ट्वाऽऽयोधनमत्युग्रं धर्मज्ञा सुबलात्मजा ॥

duḥkhopahatacittābhiḥ samantādanunāditam | dṛṣṭvā''yodhanamatyugraṃ dharmajñā subalātmajā

The field, resounding all around with the voices of women whose minds were crushed by grief, was seen by Gandhari, daughter of Subala, who knew dharma, in all its dreadfulness.

Verse 17 (11.16.17)

ततः सा पुण्डरीकाक्षमामन्त्र्य पुरुषोत्तमम् । कुरूणां वैशमं दृष्ट्वा इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ sā puṇḍarīkākṣamāmantrya puruṣottamam | kurūṇāṃ vaiśamaṃ dṛṣṭvā idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Then she called to lotus-eyed Purushottama, and, seeing the ruin of the Kurus, spoke these words.

Verse 18 (11.16.18)

पश्यैताः पुण्डरीकाक्ष स्नुषा मे निहतेश्वराः । प्रकीर्णकेशाः क्रोशन्तीः कुररीरिव माधव ॥

paśyaitāḥ puṇḍarīkākṣa snuṣā me nihateśvarāḥ | prakīrṇakeśāḥ krośantīḥ kurarīriva mādhava

"Look, lotus-eyed one, at these daughters-in-law of mine, whose lords are slain, with loosened hair, crying out like ospreys, Madhava.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 19 (11.16.19)

अमूस्त्वभिसमागम्य स्मरन्त्यो भरतर्षभान् । पृथगेवानुपद्यन्ते पुत्रान्भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पतीन् ॥

amūstvabhisamāgamya smarantyo bharatarṣabhān | pṛthagevānupadyante putrānbhrātṝnpitṝnpatīn

Coming together and remembering those bulls among the Bharatas, they approach each of them separately: sons, brothers, fathers, husbands.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 20 (11.16.20)

वीरसूभिर्महाबाहो हतपुत्राभिरावृतम् । क्वचिच्च वीरपत्नीभिर्हतवीराभिरावृतम् ॥

vīrasūbhirmahābāho hataputrābhirāvṛtam | kvacicca vīrapatnībhirhatavīrābhirāvṛtam

The field is crowded with mothers of heroes whose sons are slain, and in places with wives of heroes whose husbands are slain, mighty-armed one.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 21 (11.16.21)

शोभितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैः कर्णभीष्माभिमन्युभिः । द्रोणद्रुपदशल्यैश्च ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः ॥

śobhitaṃ puruṣavyāghraiḥ karṇabhīṣmābhimanyubhiḥ | droṇadrupadaśalyaiśca jvaladbhiriva pāvakaiḥ

It is made splendid by tigers among men, Karna, Bhishma and Abhimanyu, and Drona, Drupada and Shalya, who blaze like fires.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 22 (11.16.22)

काञ्चनैः कवचैर्निष्कैर्मणिभिश्च महाधनैः । अद्भुतैर्हस्तकेयूरैः स्रग्भिश्च समलंकृतम् ॥

kāñcanaiḥ kavacairniṣkairmaṇibhiśca mahādhanaiḥ | adbhutairhastakeyūraiḥ sragbhiśca samalaṃkṛtam

It is adorned with golden armour, necklaces, costly jewels, wondrous armlets and garlands.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 23 (11.16.23)

वीरबाहुविसृष्टाभिः शक्तिभिः परिघैरपि । खड्गैश्च विविधैस्तीक्ष्णैः सशरैश्च शरासनैः ॥

vīrabāhuvisṛṣṭābhiḥ śaktibhiḥ parighairapi | khaḍgaiśca vividhaistīkṣṇaiḥ saśaraiśca śarāsanaiḥ

It is strewn with spears hurled by the arms of heroes, with maces, with many sharp swords, and with bows together with their arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गैश्च → खड्गैश्च (misprint in Wikisource; ङ् for ड्; the word is खड्ग). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 24 (11.16.24)

क्रव्यादसङ्घैर्मुदितैस्तिष्ठद्भिः सहितैः क्वचित् । क्वचिदाक्रीडमानैश्च शयानैश्चापरैः क्वचित् ॥

kravyādasaṅghairmuditaistiṣṭhadbhiḥ sahitaiḥ kvacit | kvacidākrīḍamānaiśca śayānaiścāparaiḥ kvacit

In places it is crowded with hordes of flesh-eaters, delighted and standing together; in places others sport and others lie down.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 25 (11.16.25)

एतदेवंविधं वीर सम्पश्यायोधनं विभो । त्वया तु श्रावितं कर्म पुष्कराक्ष महाद्युते । पश्यमाना हि दह्यामि शोकेनाहं जनार्दन ॥

etadevaṃvidhaṃ vīra sampaśyāyodhanaṃ vibho | tvayā tu śrāvitaṃ karma puṣkarākṣa mahādyute | paśyamānā hi dahyāmi śokenāhaṃ janārdana

See this battlefield, such as it is, O hero, O lord. But it was by you that this deed was announced, lotus-eyed one of great radiance. Seeing it, I burn with grief, Janardana.

Note on the text: Removed the stray wiki marks (backtick and apostrophe) printed around line 2. Three-line verse: lines 1 and 3 are CE 11.16.25a and 25c; line 2 is a recension variant of the CE star line 11.16.25b*0045_01 (CE tvayā tu sādhitaṃ karma puṣkarākṣa mahādyute; Wikisource has श्रावितम्). The alignment found no match.

Verse 26 (11.16.26)

पाञ्चालानां कुरूणां च विनाशं मधुसूदन । पञ्चानामपि भूतानामहं वधमचिन्तयम् ॥

pāñcālānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca vināśaṃ madhusūdana | pañcānāmapi bhūtānāmahaṃ vadhamacintayam

I looked on the destruction of the Panchalas and the Kurus, Madhusudana, as the destruction of the five elements themselves.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Page note: पञ्चानां भूतानां means the elements, earth and the rest; the sense is that the whole world made of the five elements was destroyed with the Kuru-Panchala slaughter.

Verse 27 (11.16.27)

तान्सुपर्णाश्च गृध्राश्च कर्षयन्त्यसृगुक्षितान् । विगृह्य चरणैर्गृध्रा भक्षयन्ति सहस्रशः ॥

tānsuparṇāśca gṛdhrāśca karṣayantyasṛgukṣitān | vigṛhya caraṇairgṛdhrā bhakṣayanti sahasraśaḥ

Eagles and vultures drag them away, soaked in blood, and the vultures, gripping them with their claws, devour them by the thousand.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 28 (11.16.28)

जयद्रथस्य कर्णस्य तथैव द्रोमभीष्मयोः । अभिमन्योर्विनाशं च कश्चिन्तयितुमर्हति ॥

jayadrathasya karṇasya tathaiva dromabhīṣmayoḥ | abhimanyorvināśaṃ ca kaścintayitumarhati

Who can bear to think of the fall of Jayadratha and Karna, of Drona and Bhishma, and of Abhimanyu?

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 29 (11.16.29)

अवध्यकल्पान्निहतान्गतसत्वानचेतसः । गृध्रकङ्कवलश्येनश्वसृगालसमावृतान् ॥

avadhyakalpānnihatāngatasatvānacetasaḥ | gṛdhrakaṅkavalaśyenaśvasṛgālasamāvṛtān

Men who were as if beyond killing, now slain, lifeless and senseless, surrounded by vultures, kankas, vala-birds, hawks, dogs and jackals,

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Recension variant of CE 11.16.29 (CE avadhyakalpān nihatān dṛṣṭvāhaṃ madhusūdana / gṛdhrakaṅkabaḍaśyenaśvasṛgālādanīkṛtān); the alignment found no match. The sentence runs on into the next verse.

Verse 30 (11.16.30)

अमर्षवशमापन्नान्दुर्योधनवशे स्थितान् । पश्येमान्पुरुषव्याघ्रान्संशान्तान्पावकानिव ॥

amarṣavaśamāpannānduryodhanavaśe sthitān | paśyemānpuruṣavyāghrānsaṃśāntānpāvakāniva

who had fallen under the power of wrath and stood under Duryodhana's sway: look at these tigers among men, extinguished like fires.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 31 (11.16.31)

शयनान्युचिताः सर्वे मृदूनि विमलानि च । विपन्नास्तेऽद्य वसुधां विवृतामधिशेरते ॥

śayanānyucitāḥ sarve mṛdūni vimalāni ca | vipannāste'dya vasudhāṃ vivṛtāmadhiśerate

All of them were used to soft, spotless beds; fallen now, they lie on the bare earth.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 32 (11.16.32)

बन्दिभिः सततं काले स्तुवद्भिरभिनन्दिताः । शिवानामशिवा घोराः शृण्वन्ति विविधा गिरः ॥

bandibhiḥ satataṃ kāle stuvadbhirabhinanditāḥ | śivānāmaśivā ghorāḥ śṛṇvanti vividhā giraḥ

Those whom bards once delighted by constant praises at the proper time now hear the many harsh and ill-omened cries of jackals.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 33 (11.16.33)

ये पुरा शेरते वीराः शयनेषु यशस्विनः । चन्दनागुरुदिग्धाङ्गास्तेऽद्य पांसुषु शेरते ॥

ye purā śerate vīrāḥ śayaneṣu yaśasvinaḥ | candanāgurudigdhāṅgāste'dya pāṃsuṣu śerate

Those glorious heroes who once slept on beds, their limbs smeared with sandal and aloe, today sleep in the dust.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 34 (11.16.34)

तेषामाभरणान्येते गृध्रगोमायुवायसाः । आक्षिपन्ति शिवा घोरा विनदन्त्यः पुनः पुनः ॥

teṣāmābharaṇānyete gṛdhragomāyuvāyasāḥ | ākṣipanti śivā ghorā vinadantyaḥ punaḥ punaḥ

These vultures, jackals and crows, and the fierce she-jackals howling again and again, snatch away their ornaments.

Note on the text: Corrected गृघ्र → गृध्र (misprint in Wikisource; ध् for घ्; the word is गृध्र (vulture); CE gṛdhra). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 35 (11.16.35)

बाणान्विनिशितान्पीतान्निस्त्रिंशान्विमला गदाः । युद्धाभिमानिनः सर्वे जीवन्त इव बिभ्रति ॥

bāṇānviniśitānpītānnistriṃśānvimalā gadāḥ | yuddhābhimāninaḥ sarve jīvanta iva bibhrati

Keen-edged, well-tempered arrows and swords and bright maces, all these battle-proud men hold as if they were still alive.

Note on the text: Corrected बाणान्वनिनिशितान् → बाणान्विनिशितान् (misprint in Wikisource; an extra न inserted; विनिशित, "well whetted"). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Recension variant of CE 11.16.35 (CE cāpāni viśikhān pītān …; Wikisource has बाणान्), kept.

Verse 36 (11.16.36)

सुरूपवर्णा बहवः क्रव्यादैरवघट्टिताः । ऋषभप्रतिरूपाक्षाः शेरते च सहस्रशः ॥

surūpavarṇā bahavaḥ kravyādairavaghaṭṭitāḥ | ṛṣabhapratirūpākṣāḥ śerate ca sahasraśaḥ

Many of fine form and colour, struck about by flesh-eaters, with eyes like a bull's, lie there in their thousands.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 37 (11.16.37)

अपरे पुनरालिङ्ग्य गदाः परिघबाहवः । शेरतेऽभिमुखाः शूरा दयिता इव योषितः ॥

apare punarāliṅgya gadāḥ parighabāhavaḥ | śerate'bhimukhāḥ śūrā dayitā iva yoṣitaḥ

Others, mace-bearers with arms like iron bars, lie embracing their maces, brave men facing forward, like men lying with their beloved women.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 38 (11.16.38)

बिभ्रतः कवचान्यन्ये विमलान्यायुधानि च । न धर्षयन्ति क्रव्यादा जीवन्तीति जनार्दन ॥

bibhrataḥ kavacānyanye vimalānyāyudhāni ca | na dharṣayanti kravyādā jīvantīti janārdana

Others wear armour and bright weapons, and the flesh-eaters do not touch them, thinking they are still alive, Janardana.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 39 (11.16.39)

क्रव्यादैः कृष्यमाणानामपरेषां महात्मनाम् । शातकौम्भ्यः स्रजश्चित्रा विप्रकीर्णाः समन्ततः ॥

kravyādaiḥ kṛṣyamāṇānāmapareṣāṃ mahātmanām | śātakaumbhyaḥ srajaścitrā viprakīrṇāḥ samantataḥ

Of other great-souled men, dragged away by flesh-eaters, the multicoloured golden garlands lie scattered on all sides.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 40 (11.16.40)

एते गोमायवो भीमा निहतानां यशस्विनाम् । कण्ठान्तरगतान्हारानाक्षिपन्ति सहस्रशः ॥

ete gomāyavo bhīmā nihatānāṃ yaśasvinām | kaṇṭhāntaragatānhārānākṣipanti sahasraśaḥ

These dreadful jackals snatch by the thousand the necklaces from the throats of the renowned slain.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 41 (11.16.41)

सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु यानवन्दन्त बन्दिनः । स्तुतिभिश्च परार्ध्याभिरुपचारैश्च शिक्षिताः ॥

sarveṣvapararātreṣu yānavandanta bandinaḥ | stutibhiśca parārdhyābhirupacāraiśca śikṣitāḥ

Those whom the bards, trained in praise and service, used to delight in every last watch of the night with excellent hymns and attendance,

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 42 (11.16.42)

तानद्य परिदेवन्ति दुःखार्ताः परमाङ्गनाः । कृपणा वृष्णिशार्दूल दुःखशोकार्दिता भृशम् ॥

tānadya paridevanti duḥkhārtāḥ paramāṅganāḥ | kṛpaṇā vṛṣṇiśārdūla duḥkhaśokārditā bhṛśam

for them these women of the highest rank now lament, wretched and afflicted with sorrow and grief, tiger of the Vrishnis.

Note on the text: Corrected दुःखार्ता परमाङ्गनाः → दुःखार्ताः परमाङ्गनाः (misprint in Wikisource; visarga dropped; the plural दुःखार्ताः agrees with परमाङ्गनाः and with CE 11.16.42a duḥkhārtāḥ). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 43 (11.16.43)

रक्तोत्पलवनानीव विभान्ति रुचिराणि च । मुखानि परमस्त्रीणां परिशुष्काणि केशव ॥

raktotpalavanānīva vibhānti rucirāṇi ca | mukhāni paramastrīṇāṃ pariśuṣkāṇi keśava

The dried-up faces of these noble women look lovely, Keshava, like beds of red lotuses.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 44 (11.16.44)

रुदित्वा विरता ह्येता ध्यायन्त्यः सपरिक्लमाः । कुरुस्त्रियोऽभिगच्छन्ति तेन तेनैव दुःखिताः ॥

ruditvā viratā hyetā dhyāyantyaḥ sapariklamāḥ | kurustriyo'bhigacchanti tena tenaiva duḥkhitāḥ

These women, having wept themselves still, lost in thought and exhausted, go to each of the dead, each grieving for her own.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 45 (11.16.45)

एतान्यादित्यवर्णानि तपनीयनिभानि च । पश्य रोदनताम्राणि वक्त्राणि कुरुयोषिताम् ॥

etānyādityavarṇāni tapanīyanibhāni ca | paśya rodanatāmrāṇi vaktrāṇi kuruyoṣitām

Look at these faces of the Kuru women, bright as the sun, like burnished gold, red with weeping.

Note on the text: Corrected तपमीय → तपनीय (misprint in Wikisource; म for न; CE 11.16.45a tapanīyanibhāni, "like burnished gold"). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Line 2 is a recension variant of CE 11.16.45c (CE roṣarodanatāmrāṇi; Wikisource has पश्य रोदनताम्राणि).

Verse 46 (11.16.46)

श्यामानां वरवर्णानां गौरीणामेकवाससाम् । दुर्योधनवरस्त्रीणां पश्य वृन्दानि केशव ॥

śyāmānāṃ varavarṇānāṃ gaurīṇāmekavāsasām | duryodhanavarastrīṇāṃ paśya vṛndāni keśava

Look, Keshava, at the crowds of Duryodhana's fair wives, some dark, some golden-fair, of lovely colour, each wearing a single garment.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: these two lines are its star passage 11.16.45d*0046_01–02 (CE śyāmānāṃ varavarṇānāṃ gaurīṇām ekavāsasām / duryodhanavarastrīṇāṃ paśya vṛndāni keśava), which the alignment did not match.

Verse 47 (11.16.47)

आसामपरिपूर्णार्थं निशम्य परिदेवितम् । इतरेतरसङ्क्रन्दान्न विजानन्ति योषितः ॥

āsāmaparipūrṇārthaṃ niśamya paridevitam | itaretarasaṅkrandānna vijānanti yoṣitaḥ

Hearing one another's unfinished laments, the women cannot tell one from another in the din of their mutual wailing.

Note on the text: Corrected इतरेरसङ्क्रन्दान् → इतरेतरसङ्क्रन्दान् (misprint in Wikisource; त dropped; CE 11.16.46c itaretarasaṃkrandān). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 48 (11.16.48)

एता दीर्घमिवोच्छ्वस्य विक्रुश्य च विलप्य च । विस्पन्दमाना दुःखेन वीरा जहति जीवितम् ॥

etā dīrghamivocchvasya vikruśya ca vilapya ca | vispandamānā duḥkhena vīrā jahati jīvitam

Sighing long, crying out and lamenting, writhing in grief, these brave women are giving up their lives.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 49 (11.16.49)

बह्व्यो दृष्ट्वा शरीराणि क्रोशन्ति विलपन्ति च । पाणिभिश्चापरा घ्नन्ति शिरांसि मृदुपाणयः ॥

bahvyo dṛṣṭvā śarīrāṇi krośanti vilapanti ca | pāṇibhiścāparā ghnanti śirāṃsi mṛdupāṇayaḥ

Many, seeing the bodies, cry out and lament, and others, soft-handed, beat their heads with their hands.

Note on the text: Corrected दृष्ट्व शरीराणि → दृष्ट्वा शरीराणि (misprint in Wikisource; ā dropped; CE 11.16.48a dṛṣṭvā śarīrāṇi). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 50 (11.16.50)

शिरोभिः पतितैर्हस्तैः सर्वाङ्गैः खण्डशः कृतैः । इतरेतरसम्पृक्तैराकीर्णा भाति मेदिनी ॥

śirobhiḥ patitairhastaiḥ sarvāṅgaiḥ khaṇḍaśaḥ kṛtaiḥ | itaretarasampṛktairākīrṇā bhāti medinī

With heads, hands and limbs fallen and hacked to pieces, all mingled together, the earth appears strewn.

Note on the text: Corrected इतरेतसम्पृक्तै → इतरेतरसम्पृक्तै (misprint in Wikisource; र dropped; CE 11.16.49c itaretarasaṃpṛktair). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 51 (11.16.51)

विशिरस्कानथो कायान्दृष्ट्वा ह्येताननिन्दितान् । मुह्यन्त्यनुचिता नार्यो विदेहानि शिरांसि च ॥

viśiraskānatho kāyāndṛṣṭvā hyetānaninditān | muhyantyanucitā nāryo videhāni śirāṃsi ca

On seeing these blameless bodies headless, and heads without bodies, the women, who are unused to such sights, faint.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 52 (11.16.52)

शिरः कायेन सन्धाय प्रेक्षमाणा विचेतसः । अपश्यन्त्योऽपरं तत्र नेदमस्येति दुःखिताः ॥

śiraḥ kāyena sandhāya prekṣamāṇā vicetasaḥ | apaśyantyo'paraṃ tatra nedamasyeti duḥkhitāḥ

Fitting a head to a body and gazing in bewilderment, they cannot find the other that belongs to it; "this is not his," they say, in distress.

Note on the text: Corrected नेदमस्येऽति → नेदमस्येति (misprint in Wikisource; the avagraha is misprinted; the quotation particle इति; CE 11.16.51c nedam asyeti). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 53 (11.16.53)

बाहूरुचरणानन्यान्विशिखोन्मथितान्पृथक् । सन्दधत्योऽसुखाविष्टा मूर्छन्त्येताः पुनःपुनः ॥

bāhūrucaraṇānanyānviśikhonmathitānpṛthak | sandadhatyo'sukhāviṣṭā mūrchantyetāḥ punaḥpunaḥ

Trying to fit together the arms, thighs and feet of different men, shattered apart by arrows, the miserable women swoon again and again.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 54 (11.16.54)

उत्कृत्तशिरसश्चान्यान्विजग्धान्मृगपक्षिभिः । दृष्ट्वा काश्चिन्न जानन्ति भर्तॄन्भरतयोषितः ॥

utkṛttaśirasaścānyānvijagdhānmṛgapakṣibhiḥ | dṛṣṭvā kāścinna jānanti bhartṝnbharatayoṣitaḥ

Seeing others with heads cut off and mauled by beasts and birds, some of the Bharata women fail to recognise their husbands.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 55 (11.16.55)

पाणिभिश्चापरा घ्नन्ति शिरांसि मधुसूदन । प्रेक्ष्य भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पुत्रान्पतींश्च निहतान्परैः ॥

pāṇibhiścāparā ghnanti śirāṃsi madhusūdana | prekṣya bhrātṝnpitṝnputrānpatīṃśca nihatānparaiḥ

Others strike their own heads with their hands, Madhusudana, seeing their brothers, fathers, sons and husbands slain by the enemy.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 56 (11.16.56)

बाहुभिश्च सखड्गैश्च शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः । अगम्यकल्पा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा । बभूव भरतश्रेष्ठ प्राणिभिर्गतजीवितैः ॥

bāhubhiśca sakhaḍgaiśca śirobhiśca sakuṇḍalaiḥ | agamyakalpā pṛthivī māṃsaśoṇitakardamā | babhūva bharataśreṣṭha prāṇibhirgatajīvitaiḥ

The earth, with arms still gripping swords and with heads wearing earrings, a mire of flesh and blood, has become impassable, best of the Bharatas, through the creatures who have lost their lives.

Note on the text: Corrected सखङ्गैश्च → सखड्गैश्च (misprint in Wikisource; ङ् for ड्; the word is खड्ग). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Three-line verse: lines 1–2 are CE 11.16.55a and 55c; line 3 is the CE star line 11.16.55d*0047_01 (babhūva bharataśreṣṭha prāṇibhir gatajīvitaiḥ), which the alignment did not match.

Verse 57 (11.16.57)

न दुःखेषूचिताः पूर्वं दुःखं गाहन्त्यनिन्दिताः । भ्रातृभिः पतिभिः पुत्रैरुपाकीर्णां वसुन्धराम् ॥

na duḥkheṣūcitāḥ pūrvaṃ duḥkhaṃ gāhantyaninditāḥ | bhrātṛbhiḥ patibhiḥ putrairupākīrṇāṃ vasundharām

Blameless women who were never used to sorrow now plunge into it, on an earth strewn with brothers, husbands and sons.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 58 (11.16.58)

यूथानीव किशोरीणां सुकेशीनां जनार्दन । स्नुषाणां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्य वृन्दान्यनेकशः ॥

yūthānīva kiśorīṇāṃ sukeśīnāṃ janārdana | snuṣāṇāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya paśya vṛndānyanekaśaḥ

Look, Janardana, at the many groups of Dhritarashtra's fair-haired daughters-in-law, like herds of young fillies.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading.

Verse 59 (11.16.59)

इतो दुःखतरं किन्नु केशव प्रतिभाति मे । यदिमाः कुर्वते सर्वा रवमुच्चावचं स्त्रियः ॥

ito duḥkhataraṃ kinnu keśava pratibhāti me | yadimāḥ kurvate sarvā ravamuccāvacaṃ striyaḥ

Keshava, what seems to me more painful than this, that all these women raise such a cry, shrill and low?

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Recension variant of CE 11.16.58c (CE rūpam uccāvacam; Wikisource has रवम्, "sound"), kept.

Verse 60 (11.16.60)

नूनमाचरितं पापं मया पूर्वेषु जन्मसु । या पश्यामि हतान्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्भ्रातॄंश्च माधव ॥

nūnamācaritaṃ pāpaṃ mayā pūrveṣu janmasu | yā paśyāmi hatānputrānpautrānbhrātṝṃśca mādhava

Surely in former births I committed a sin, I who see my sons, grandsons and brothers slain, Madhava.

Note on the text: Corrected भ्रातृंश्च → भ्रातॄंश्च (misprint in Wikisource; short ृ for long ॄ; CE 11.16.59c bhrātṝṃś ca). Speaker supplied: Gandhari's direct speech to Krishna, with no printed heading. Lines 1–2 are CE 11.16.59a and 59c (the CE has a third line, 59e, which stands in the next verse here; the alignment found no match).

Verse 61 (11.16.61)

एवमार्ता विलपती समाभाष्य जनार्दनम् । गान्धारी पुत्रशोकार्ता ददर्श निहतं सुतम् ॥

evamārtā vilapatī samābhāṣya janārdanam | gāndhārī putraśokārtā dadarśa nihataṃ sutam

Thus lamenting in distress, Gandhari, afflicted by grief for her sons, spoke to Janardana and saw her slain son.

Note on the text: Corrected द्वदर्श → ददर्श (misprint in Wikisource; extra व्; CE 11.16.59e dadarśa). Narration closing Gandhari's speech. Line 1 corresponds to CE 11.16.59e (evam ārtā vilapatī) with the CE star lines 11.16.59e*0048_01–02 (… samābhāṣya janārdanam / gāndhārī putraśokārtā); line 2 joins gāndhārī putraśokārtā (*0048_02) with dadarśa nihataṃ sutam (59e). The alignment found no match.