Shloka 6
अध्याय २१ — गान्धार्या वैकर्तनदर्शनम्
Gāndhārī’s Viewing of Vaikartana/Karṇa
समेता: पुरुषव्याप्र निहतं शूरमाहवे | प्रकीर्णमूर्धजा: पत्न्यो रुदत्य: पर्युपासते,पुरुषसिंह! रणभूमिमें मारे गये इस शूरवीरके पास आकर इसकी पत्नियाँ सिरके बाल बिखेरे बैठी हुई रो रही हैं
sametāḥ puruṣavyāghra nihataṃ śūram āhave | prakīrṇamūrdhajāḥ patnyo rudatyaḥ paryupāsate ||
ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಹೇ ಪುರುಷವ್ಯಾಘ್ರ! ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಹತನಾದ ಆ ಶೂರನ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಅವನ ಪತ್ನಿಯರು ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ; ತಲೆಕೂದಲು ಚದುರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಅವನ ಸಮೀಪ ಕುಳಿತು ಅಳುತ್ತಾ ಸೇವಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and human aftermath of warfare: even heroic death leaves behind intense suffering for dependents, especially wives, highlighting compassion and the tragic cost that follows violence.
After a warrior has been killed in battle, his wives gather around his body on the battlefield, their hair loosened in mourning, and they sit near him crying.