Shloka 17
वसुदेव–अर्जुन संवादः
Vasudeva–Arjuna Dialogue in the Aftermath of Dvārakā
प्रकीर्णमूर्थजा: सर्वा विमुक्ताभरणस्रज: । उरांसि पाणिभिष्ध्नन्त्यो व्यलपन् करुणं स्त्रिय:,उन सबके बाल खुले हुए थे। उन्होंने आभूषण और मालाएँ तोड़कर फेंक दी थीं और वे सारी स्त्रियाँ अपने हाथोंसे छाती पीटती हुई करुणाजनक विलाप कर रही थीं
prakīrṇamūrdhajāḥ sarvā vimuktābharaṇasrajaḥ | urāṃsi pāṇibhir ghnantyo vyalapan karuṇaṃ striyaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Semua perempuan berambut terurai kusut; mereka telah menanggalkan serta membuang perhiasan dan rangkaian bunga. Sambil memukul-mukul dada dengan tangan, mereka meratap pilu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how catastrophic events shatter social and domestic stability: the women’s dishevelled hair and discarded ornaments symbolize the suspension of normal dharmic household life under extreme sorrow, underscoring impermanence and the human cost of violence.
In the Mausala Parva’s aftermath, the women are shown in public mourning—hair loosened, ornaments and garlands cast aside—beating their chests and crying out in grief for the dead and the ruined community.