Shloka 17
स्त्रीपर्व — गान्धारीविलापः
Strī Parva — Gāndhārī’s Lament over the Fallen
स्मितोपपन्नं सुनसं सुभ्रु ताराधिपोपमम् | अतीव शुभ्र॑ वदनं कृष्ण पश्य विविंशते:,श्रीकृष्ण! देखो, विविंशतिका मुख अत्यन्त उज्ज्वल है, इसके अधरोंपर मुसकराहट खेल रही है, नासिका मनोहर और भौंहें सुन्दर हैं। यह मुख चन्द्रमाके समान शोभा पा रहा है
smitopapannaṁ sunasaṁ subhru tārādhipopamam | atīva śubhraṁ vadanaṁ kṛṣṇa paśya viviṁśateḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Kṛṣṇa, lihatlah wajah Viviṁśati—terlalu terang dan berseri. Senyuman lembut bermain di bibirnya; hidungnya elok terbentuk dan keningnya indah. Wajahnya bersinar laksana penghulu bintang-bintang, sang bulan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the poignancy of war’s aftermath: even those who appear youthful, beautiful, and radiant are not spared. By highlighting the serene, moon-like face, the text intensifies the ethical reflection on the cost of violence and the fragility of embodied life.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to the listener, addressing Kṛṣṇa, drawing attention to Viviṁśati’s strikingly radiant face. The description functions as a lamenting, visual emphasis within the grief-filled context of the Strī Parva, where the dead are observed and mourned after the great battle.