Shloka 4
गान्धारी-प्रशमनम् — Pacification of Gāndhārī and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel at Hāstinapura
ततस्ते प्राविशन् पार्था हतत्विट्कं हतेश्वरम् | दुर्योधनस्य शिबिरं रड्भवद्धिसृते जने,तत्पश्चात् कुन्तीके पुत्रोंने पहले दुर्योधनके शिबिरमें प्रवेश किया। जैसे दर्शकोंके चले जानेपर सूना रंगमण्डप शोभाहीन दिखायी देता है, उसी प्रकार जिसका स्वामी मारा गया था, वह शिबिर उत्सवशून्य नगर और नागरहित सरोवरके समान श्रीहीन जान पड़ता था। वहाँ रहनेवाले लोगोंमें अधिकांश स्त्रियाँ और नपुंसक थे तथा बूढ़े मन्त्री अधिष्ठाता बनकर उस शिबिरका संरक्षण कर रहे थे
tatas te prāviśan pārthā hatatviṭkaṁ hateśvaram | duryodhanasya śibiraṁ raṅgavad dhiśṛte jane ||
Sañjaya said: Then the sons of Pṛthā entered Duryodhana’s camp—its lord slain and its splendor extinguished. With the crowd dispersed, it resembled an empty theatre after the spectators have departed: bereft of festivity and radiance, like a city without celebration or a lake without serpents. Within, most of those remaining were women and eunuchs, while aged ministers stood as overseers, guarding what was left of the camp.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the fragility of worldly power: when the ruler falls, the camp’s glory collapses at once. It evokes vairāgya-like reflection—splendor depends on dharma-backed leadership and living order, and war’s outcome leaves emptiness rather than triumph.
After Duryodhana’s fall, the Pāṇḍavas enter his camp. Sañjaya describes it as desolate and joyless, like a theatre after the audience has left—guarded mainly by elderly ministers, with most remaining inhabitants being non-combatants.