Shloka 19
स्त्री-विलापः — गान्धार्याः रणभूमिदर्शनं शापवचनं च
Battlefield Lament and Gāndhārī’s Curse
एतास्तु द्रुपदं वृद्ध स्नुषा भार्याश्व दुःखिता: । दग्ध्वा गच्छन्ति पाउचाल्यं राजानमपसव्यतः,इन बूढ़े पांचालराज ट्रपदको इनकी दुःखी रानियाँ और पुत्रवधुएँ चितामें जलाकर इनकी प्रदक्षिणा करके जा रही हैं
etāstu drupadaṁ vṛddha snuṣā bhāryāś ca duḥkhitāḥ | dagdhvā gacchanti pāñcālyaṁ rājānam apasavyataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Para permaisuri dan menantu perempuan ini, dilanda dukacita, setelah menyerahkan Raja Drupada yang tua kepada api pembakaran jenazah, lalu berjalan pergi sambil mengelilingi raja Pāñcāla dalam arah songsang.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid overwhelming sorrow, dharma is upheld through proper funerary rites; the reverse circumambulation (apasavya) marks the inauspicious, liminal context of death and acknowledges the gravity of loss after war.
Drupada’s bereaved queens and daughters-in-law cremate the aged king and then move on while performing apasavya circumambulation around him, a ritual gesture associated with funerary observance.