Shloka 2
स्त्रीपर्व — गान्धारीभीमसेनसंवादः
Strī-parva — Gāndhārī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Wartime Conduct
ततो ज्ञात्वा हतामित्र॑ युधिष्ठिरमुपागतम् । गान्धारी पुत्रशोकार्ता शप्तुमैच्छदनिन्दिता,पुत्रशोकसे पीड़ित हुई, गान्धारीको जब यह मालूम हुआ कि युधिष्छिर अपने शत्रुओंका संहार करके मेरे पास आये हैं, तब उन सती-साध्वी देवीने उन्हें शाप देनेकी इच्छा की
tato jñātvā hatāmitraṁ yudhiṣṭhiram upāgatam | gāndhārī putraśokārtā śaptum aicchad aninditā ||
Kemudian, apabila Gāndhārī—yang dirundung dukacita kerana putera-puteranya—mengetahui bahawa Yudhiṣṭhira telah datang setelah membinasakan musuh-musuhnya, maka baginda, walaupun tidak bersalah dan dimuliakan, berhasrat untuk menyumpahnya. Rangkap ini menegangkan pertentangan antara kesedihan seorang ibu yang tak tertanggung dan akibat etika perang yang diperjuangkan atas nama kebenaran.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when actions are undertaken under the banner of dharma, the human cost of violence persists; grief can drive even the virtuous toward retributive speech (a curse), highlighting the need to reckon ethically with consequences beyond victory.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira approaches; Gāndhārī learns he has destroyed his enemies (her sons’ side) and, consumed by sorrow for her sons, she forms the intention to curse him.