Shloka 11
स्त्री-विलापः — गान्धार्याः रणभूमिदर्शनं शापवचनं च
Battlefield Lament and Gāndhārī’s Curse
अपने पति कोसलनरेश राजकुमार बृहदबलको भी चारों ओरसे घेरकर उनकी रानियाँ अलग-अलग रो रही हैं ।। अस्य गात्रगतान् बाणान् कार्ष्णिबाहुबलार्पितान् । उद्धरन्त्यसुखाविष्टा मूर्च्छमाना: पुनः: पुन:,अभिमन्युके बाहुबलसे प्रेरित होकर कोसल-नरेशके अंगोमें धँसे हुए बाणोंको ये रानियाँ अत्यन्त दुःखी होकर निकालती हैं और बारंबार मूर्च्छित हो जाती हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | asya gātragatān bāṇān kārṣṇibāhubalārpitān | uddharanty asukhāviṣṭā mūrcchamānāḥ punaḥ punaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dihanyutkan oleh dukacita, para permaisuri yang mengelilinginya berulang kali mencabut anak panah yang tertancap pada anggota tubuhnya—anak panah yang dihunjam oleh kekuatan lengan Kārṣṇi—namun berkali-kali juga mereka rebah pengsan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical aftermath of warfare: victory and valor do not end suffering; the pain transfers to families—especially women—whose lives are shattered. It invites reflection on dharma in war and compassion for those who bear its consequences.
After the battle, the queens of the fallen Kosala ruler (Bṛhadbala, per the provided context) surround his body and, in intense grief, try to remove the arrows embedded in his limbs—arrows said to have been driven in by Kārṣṇi’s (Abhimanyu’s) arm-strength—fainting repeatedly as they do so.