Shloka 4
स्त्री-विलापः — गान्धार्याः रणभूमिदर्शनं शापवचनं च
Battlefield Lament and Gāndhārī’s Curse
हतबन्धुरनाथा च वेपन्ती मधुरस्वरा,श्रीकृष्ण! अपने जीवनबन्धुके मारे जानेसे अनाथ हुई यह रानी काँपती हुई मधुर स्वरसे विलाप कर रही है। घामसे मुरझाती हुई नाना प्रकारकी पुष्पमालाओंके समान ये राज-रानियाँ धूपसे तप गयीं हैं, तो भी इनके शरीरोंको सौन्दर्य--श्री छोड़ नहीं रही है
hatabandhur anāthā ca vepantī madhurasvarā | śrīkṛṣṇa! apane jīvanabandhuke māre jāne se anātha huī yaha rānī kāṁpatī huī madhura svar se vilāpa kara rahī hai | ghām se murjhātī huī nānā prakār kī puṣpamālāoṁ ke samān ye rāja-rāniyāṁ dhūp se tap gaīṁ haiṁ, to bhī inke śarīroṁ ko saundarya-śrī choṛ nahīṁ rahī hai |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Śrī Kṛṣṇa, sang permaisuri—kehilangan sanak dan pelindung—gemetar dan meratap dengan suara yang manis namun pecah, sebab pendamping hidupnya telah gugur. Dan para wanita istana itu, laksana rangkaian bunga aneka rupa yang layu oleh terik, tersengat panas matahari; namun sinar keindahan dan wibawa kerajaan belum juga meninggalkan tubuh mereka.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical aftermath of war: the true ‘victory’ is shadowed by bereavement and helplessness. Yet it also points to an enduring dignity—beauty and royal grace remain even when life is shattered—inviting compassion and moral reflection on the costs of violence.
Vaiśampāyana describes a queen who, having lost her husband and kin, trembles and laments before Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He also depicts the other royal women, sun-scorched and exhausted, compared to wilting flower garlands, yet still retaining their natural splendor—an image intensifying the scene’s sorrow.