The ladies in the battle field

The new chapter “of the wailing women (stree vilaapa parvam)” starts with the ladies of Hastinapuram moving to the battle field in search of their dear ones. Krishna blessed Gandhari with sight to see the dead heroes even without removing her blindfold. With that she moved into the field in search of her sons killed in the recent war.

The battle scene

What the Kaurava ladies saw was highly distressing. Thousands of bodies lay scattered all over with limbs and hair separated. Those who were killed fighting were believed to attain heaven reserved for the heroes (“veera swargam”). They were not given the usual cremation meant to ensure that the departed soul reaches the world above without delay. That may be the reason why the dead were left unattended in the battle field. The result was that it became the feeding ground for an army of carnivorous birds and animals. That was an unforgettable sight for Gandhari , Kunti and others in the group.

As the ladies drove in on chariots they saw jackals and eagles pulling on dead bodies. The sight was so shocking that many fell down from the chariots. Some lost consciousness altogether.

Gandhari called Krishna to her side and spoke. “Krishna, look at these daughters-in-law of mine who have lost their husbands. See, how they are crying like birds in distress. They find the bodies of their dear ones being pecked and pulled by eagles with golden wings. See how great warriors like Drona, Karna and your own nephew, Abhimanyu have become feed for these carnivores. These great warriors and princes should have been sleeping comfortably on silken beds at this time. Instead, they lay on the bare ground. They were used to be woken up in the morning by the song of court musicians. Instead, they lay drowned by the cry of wild birds. Meanwhile jackals and wolves pull on their golden ornaments in an effort to tear the flesh off their body”.

“My daughters-in-law are overwhelmed by the sight. Many beat on their chest and forehead in grief. Often they find the body of their dear ones with the head nowhere in sight. Many are looking for the body after getting hold of the head. A few of them try desperately to place the detached limbs back on the body (as though they hope to bring life back to it)”.

“I must have sinned greatly in my past lives that I have to watch this terrible scene today”.

Near the body of Duryodhana

Soon Gandhari reached the body of her first born. In spite of the best of her resolve to be brave she fell down unconscious at the sight of her beloved son. She embraced the body and started repeating the word “my son!” again and again. She then spoke to Krishna who was by her side. “See, Krishna, how my son lies in the bed (of soil) meant for the heroes. He appears like an elephant that was killed by a lion. Beautiful ladies of the harem attended on him in the past. Now, herds of jackals scavenge on his body. His dear wife is at his side wailing uncontrollably. She is wiping the blood off his body and beating on her head out of grief. I am surprised that my head does not break up into thousand pieces even after watching this pitiable scene”.

Gandhari, accompanied by Krishna and the rest, went to the body of all her other sons. The sight of each of her sons increased her sorrow in leaps and bounds.

The sight of the valerous Abhimanyu

The group of mourners moved on and reached the place where Abhimanyu lay killed on the thirteenth day of the war. His wife, Uttara, was already at his side wailing uncontrollably. The princess of Matsya was heard talking to her dead husband and wailing at the same time. Gandhari narrated the scene to Krishna. She said. “Krishna, it appears that the glow has not yet disappeared from the handsome body of your dear nephew even after death. See, how Uttara is trying to remove the blood soaked armour from his body. She, then, is stroking all over his body and crying pitiably. She also embraces him and even kisses his face as though she feels that her husband is still alive. See how the beautiful wife of Abhimanyu is looking at you and at the lotus like eyes of her husband which are closed for ever. Finding the resemblance she gets into deeper and deeper sorrow. No wonder that she must be finding your resemblance in him not only in appearance but also in his valour. Can you hear what Uttara says?”

The old Kaurava queen then repeated the words of Uttara addressed to Abhimanyu. “Are you not hurt lying down on this bare ground? You have spread your arms, resembling the trunk of an elephant, as though you are relaxing after doing some physical exercises. Why are you not speaking to me, though I have not done anything wrong to you? Where are you gone leaving your parents and me behind?”

Uttara could be seen shifting the head of Abhimanyu to her lap and continuing with her wailing. “Who could have dared to kill you, the son of Arjuna and the nephew of Krishna? How can I pardon the veteran Drona, Karna and other Kauravas for attacking you from all around in the most cowardly manner? I cannot even excuse my own people, the Matsyas and the Pandavas, to let you all alone in the midst of the mammoth Kaurava army. How can Arjuna continue to live even after seeing that you have been killed?”

Uttara continued. “My dear husband, when you enjoy yourself in heaven in the company of beautiful Apsara girls, will you think of me? It is my fate that I was given only six months of your company. Then, here you lie killed in battle”.

Ladies of the Matsya kingdom tried then to take Uttara away in an effort to pacify her. They, then, moved to the place where their king, Virata lay killed by the arrow of Drona.

(To be continued)