Part 39 (2/2)

(Funeral Rites)

The death of Duryodhan concludes the war, and it is followed by the lament of women and the funerals of the deceased warriors.

The pa.s.sages translated in this Book form Section x., portions of Sections xvi., xvii., and xxvi., and the whole of Section xxvii.

of Book xi. of the original text.

I

Kuru Women visit the Battle-field

Spake the ancient Dhrita-rashtra, father of a hundred sons, Sonless now and sorrow-stricken, dark his ebbing life-tide runs!

”G.o.ds fulfil my life's last wishes! Henchmen, yoke my royal car, Dhrita-rashtra meets his princes in the silent field of war,

Speed unto the Queen Gandhari, to the dames of Kuru's house, To each dear departed warrior wends his fair and faithful spouse!”

Queen Gandhari sorrow-laden with the ancient Pritha came, And each weeping widowed princess and each wailing childless dame,

And they saw the h.o.a.ry monarch, father of a perished race, Fresh and loud awoke their sorrow, welling tears suffused their face,

Good Vidura ever gentle whispered comfort unto all, Placed the dames within their chariots, left Hastina's palace hall!

Loud the wail of woe and sorrow rose from every Kuru house, Children wept beside their mothers for each widowed royal spouse,

Veiled dwellers of the palace, scarce the G.o.ds their face had seen, Heedless now through mart and city sped each widowed childless queen,

From their royal brow and bosom gem and jewel cast aside, Loose their robes and loose their tresses, quenched their haughty queenly pride!

So when falls the antlered monarch, struck by woe and sudden fear Issuing from their snowy mountains listless stray the dappled deer,

So upon the broad arena milk-white fillies brave the sun, Wildly toss their flowing tresses and in sad disorder run!

Clinging to her weeping sister wept each dame in cureless pain, For the lord, the son or father in the deathful battle slain,

Wept and smote her throbbing bosom and in bitter anguish wailed, Till her senses reeled in sorrow, till her woman's reason failed!

Veiled queens and bashful maidens, erst they shunned the public eye, Blush nor shame suffused their faces as they pa.s.sed the city by,

Gentle-bosomed, kindly hearted, erst they wiped each other's eye, Now by common sorrow laden none for sister heaved a sigh!

With this troop of wailing women, deep in woe, disconsolate, Slow the monarch of the Kurus pa.s.sed Hastina's outer gate,

Men from stall and loom and anvil, men of every guild and trade, Left the city with the monarch, through the open country strayed,

And a universal sorrow filled the air and answering sky, As when ends the mortal's _Yuga_ and the end of world is nigh!

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