Shloka 53
Gaṅgā-tīra Udaka-kriyā and Kuntī’s Disclosure of Karṇa’s Maternity
Strī-parva, Adhyāya 27
वीरपत्नीभिराकीर्ण गज़ातीरमशो भत । महासागरके समान विशाल वह गंगातट आनन्द और उत्सवसे शून्य होनेपर भी उन वीर-पत्नियोंसे व्याप्त होनेके कारण बड़ी शोभा पाने लगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | vīrapatnībhiḥ ākīrṇaṃ gaṅgātīram aśobhat | mahāsāgarakasamaṃ viśālaṃ tad gaṅgātaṭam ānanda-utsavaśūnyaṃ api vīrapatnībhiḥ vyāptaṃ sat mahatyā śobhāṃ prāpa |
Waiśampāyana berkata: Tepi Sungai Gaṅgā yang dipenuhi para istri para pahlawan yang gugur tampak mencolok. Luas bagaikan samudra raya, bentangan tepi itu—meski hampa dari sukacita dan perayaan—tetap memperoleh kemegahan yang khidmat karena dipenuhi para wanita perkasa itu, sehingga duka pun menjadi kesaksian agung atas harga perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of war: even when victory is claimed, the visible presence of widows turns the landscape into a moral reminder of loss. It suggests that true assessment of action (dharma) must include its human cost, not merely its political outcome.
In the Strī Parva’s mourning context, the Gaṅgā’s broad bank is described as being filled with the wives of slain warriors. Though the place lacks joy and celebration, it attains a solemn, poignant splendor because of the gathered women and their grief.