Shloka 13
स्त्री-विलापः — गान्धार्याः रणभूमिदर्शनं शापवचनं च
Battlefield Lament and Gāndhārī’s Curse
द्रोणेन निहता: शूरा: शेरते रुचिराज्भदा: । धृष्टद्युम्नसुता: सर्वे शिशवो हेममालिन:,ये द्रोणाचार्यके मारे हुए धृष्टद्युम्नके सभी छोटे-छोटे शूरवीर बालक सो रहे हैं। इनकी भुजाओंमें सुन्दर अंगद और गलेमें सोनेके हार शोभा पाते हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | droṇena nihatāḥ śūrāḥ śerate rucirāṅgadāḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnasutāḥ sarve śiśavo hemamālinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dibunuh oleh Droṇa, putera-putera muda Dhṛṣṭadyumna yang gagah itu terbaring di sana dalam maut—masih berhias gelang lengan yang indah dan berkalungkan emas di leher.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral cost of war: valor and noble lineage do not protect the young from destruction. Their ornaments—symbols of honor and life—contrast with their death, intensifying the ethical critique of violence and the grief that follows adharma-driven conflict.
Vaiśampāyana describes the aftermath of slaughter: the youthful sons of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, killed by Droṇa, are seen lying lifeless, still decorated with armlets and gold garlands—an image meant to evoke pity and horror in the wider lamentation of the Strī Parva.