Mahabharata 11.13.16 — Stree Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 16
Gāndhārī’s Grief, Vyāsa’s Pacification, and the Ethics of Retaliation (गान्धारी-शोकः शमोपदेशश्च)
हतेषु पार्थिवेन्द्रेषु पुत्रेषु निहतेषु च । पाण्डुपुत्रेषु वै शर्म प्रीतिश्नाप्यवतिछ्ठते,“समस्त राजाओं तथा अपने पुत्रोंके मारे जानेपर अब मेरा प्रेम और हितचिन्तन पाण्डुके इन पुत्रोंपर ही आश्रित है”
hateṣu pārthivendreṣu putreṣu nihateṣu ca | pāṇḍuputreṣu vai śarma prītiś cāpy avatiṣṭhate ||
“جب سب راجاؤں کا خاتمہ ہو گیا اور میرے اپنے بیٹے بھی مارے گئے، تو اب میری محبت اور خیرخواہی صرف پانڈو کے بیٹوں ہی پر ٹھہر گئی ہے۔”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the wake of total loss, ethical responsibility shifts from partisan attachment to the duty of protecting the remaining rightful heirs; compassion and welfare-mindedness should prevail over vengeance after war.
The narrator reports a post-battle sentiment: with the kings and the speaker’s sons dead, affection and concern are now directed toward the sons of Pāṇḍu, signaling a move toward acceptance and support of the survivors.
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