Mahabharata 11.17.2 — Stree Parva, Adhyaya 17, Shloka 2
Adhyāya 17 — Gandhārī’s Vilāpa at Duryodhana’s Body (स्त्रीपर्व, अध्याय १७)
सातु लब्ध्वा पुनः संज्ञां विक्रुश्य च विलप्य च दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य शयानं रुधिरोक्षितम्
sā tu labdhvā punaḥ saṃjñāṃ vikruśya ca vilapya ca duryodhanam abhiprekṣya śayānaṃ rudhirokṣitam
सा तु लब्ध्वा पुनः संज्ञां विक्रुश्य च विलप्य च। दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य शयानं रुधिरोक्षितम्॥ पुनः पुनः पुत्रमाह्वयन्ती गान्धारी शोकविह्वला। तमालिङ्ग्य हृदि संधाय दीनार्ता रुरुदे भृशम्॥ व्याकुलानीन्द्रियाण्यस्या विललाप ‘हा सुत! हा सुत!’ इति॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the human cost of adharma and war: even royal power ends in vulnerability, and the consequences of choices culminate in irreversible grief. It underscores compassion and the ethical weight of conflict, where victory and defeat alike are shadowed by suffering.
Gāndhārī regains consciousness, then repeatedly cries and laments as she beholds her son Duryodhana lying blood-soaked. Overwhelmed, she mourns intensely, calling out to him as her senses reel from sorrow.
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