Shloka 14
Adhyāya 17 — Gandhārī’s Vilāpa at Duryodhana’s Body (स्त्रीपर्व, अध्याय १७)
य॑ं पुरा पर्युपासीना रमयन्ति महीक्षित: । महीतलस्थं निहतं गृध्रास्तं पर्युपासते,“जिसके पास पहले राजा लोग बैठकर उसे आनन्द प्रदान करते थे, आज मरकर धरतीपर पड़े उसी वीरके पास गीध बैठे हुए हैं
yaṁ purā paryupāsīnā ramayanti mahīkṣitaḥ | mahītalasthaṁ nihataṁ gṛdhrās taṁ paryupāsate ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “He whom kings once surrounded, seated near him and delighting him with their attendance—now lies slain upon the earth; and vultures sit around that very hero.” The verse underscores the moral shock of war: worldly honor and royal companionship collapse into the stark impermanence of the body, exposing the tragic reversal from celebrated life to abandoned death.
वैशम्पायन उवाच