Stri Parva is the eighty-second Upa Parva included in the eleventh Maha Parva, known as the Stri Parva. Vaishampayana continued his narration to Janamejaya in response to his questions as follows.
What did the ladies and Dhritarashtra do when Sanjaya announced the end of the war?
The palace ladies, led by Gandhari, and Dhritarashtra with his son Yuyutsu, set out to visit the battlefield, where the corpses had been mutilated by birds and animals and lay scattered across the Kurukshetra war ground. It was the morning of the nineteenth day. Relatives and inheritors of the fallen soldiers searched the battlefield for their loved ones, moving from place to place. By Yudhishthira’s order, the tents and camps were cleared, and people began to return to their permanent residences with their families.
The Pandava brothers, along with Krishna, heard of Dhritarashtra’s arrival with Gandhari and Kunti at Kurukshetra. Krishna greeted Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti on the way and saluted them, speaking in soft tones. Yudhishthira also welcomed them respectfully. Gandhari had tied a cloth over her eyes, but she could see the tips of Yudhishthira’s toes, which suddenly turned black.
Krishna, wise and perceptive, understood the feelings of both Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Yudhishthira instructed his brothers to speak only kind words with the palace people and the ladies. Since Kunti was present, Yudhishthira also saluted her with his brothers. Krishna then greeted Gandhari with consoling, gentle words.
Where was Draupadi then?
Draupadi and Uttara were with the women of the Pandavas. Having lost their sons, they wished to visit the field where their children and brothers had been killed. Along the way, all the women sorrowfully greeted the tragic sight before them.
Why were Kritavarma, Kripa, and Ashwathama not present?
Kritavarma was in Dwaraka at the time. Ashwathama had gone to Badarikashrama. Kripa remained at the Hastinapura Palace near the throne, awaiting Yudhishthira’s arrival.
What happened when Dhritarashtra wished to embrace Bhima?
Krishna had already sensed the deep anger within Dhritarashtra. When Dhritarashtra wished to embrace Bhima, Krishna intervened by placing a strong cast-iron statue in Bhima’s place. Blind Dhritarashtra, unable to see, embraced the statue, and in his rage and strength, shattered it, injuring himself in the process.
When he began to bleed, he cried out in grief, thinking, “O Bhima, you too are dead!” Overcome with sorrow, Dhritarashtra collapsed. Krishna then soothed him with gentle words, and his anger subsided.
मा शुचो धृतराष्ट्र त्वं नैष भीमस्त्वया हतः ।
आयसी प्रतिमा ह्येषा त्वया राजन्निपातिता ॥
O Dhritarashtra, do not grieve. You have not killed Bhima. It was only a statue that fell from your hands.
Once anger had left him, Bhima himself embraced Dhritarashtra. Dhritarashtra was as powerful as Balarama, but he was a blind king.
How did the statue of Bhima end up in Krishna’s possession?
Duryodhana practiced mace fighting every morning and had a cast-iron statue of Bhima made for this purpose in the Hastinapura Palace. When Duryodhana hid himself in the Dwaipayana Sarovara, Krishna took the statue and kept it with him. At that time, neither Kritavarma, in charge of palace security, nor Kripa, who watched over the throne, was present.
Why did Yudhishthira ask Krishna about guarding the empty throne?
Yudhishthira asked Krishna why the throne needed to be guarded. Krishna replied, “The throne is to be protected, as it is the seat of Sanatana Dharma.” Since Kripa was not guarding the throne and Kritavarma was absent from the palace entrance, a dog wandered in and lay atop the throne. Such a state of administration is called anarchy, where law and order vanish.
When did the dog follow Yudhishthira?
The dog followed Yudhishthira during his final journey with Draupadi and his brothers. This will be described further in the Mahaprasthanika Parva on this website. Before their last journey, Yudhishthira walked with the dog, and as the story reveals, the dog was Dharma in disguise.
Why did Vyasa hurry to Gandhari?
Gandhari, furious with Krishna, desired to curse him and end his Vrishni lineage, blaming Krishna’s strategies for the death of her hundred sons in the Mahabharata war. Vyasa arrived in haste after bathing in the Ganga and appeared before Gandhari, who was speaking with Krishna. All her sons had been killed, mostly by Bhima. Krishna, acting as Arjuna’s charioteer, carefully avoided letting Arjuna be responsible for their deaths during the eighteen-day war. Vyasa permitted Gandhari to place her curse on Krishna openly.
How did Vyasa cleverly prompt Bhima to speak with Gandhari?
Vyasa encouraged Bhima to speak gently with Gandhari. Bhima honored her son Duryodhana and praised him, saying no one equaled him in valor on the battlefield. Hearing these words, Gandhari’s anger lessened by half.
Remembering Dushasana, she then accused Bhima of drinking his blood, but Bhima apologized for rumors, explaining that while his lips were smeared with blood from combat, none had entered his mouth. Remorseful, he pleaded for her forgiveness if he had done any wrong. Bhima stood beside Krishna, and Gandhari’s anger gradually shifted from Bhima to thoughts of Krishna.
How many important kings’ deaths did Gandhari show Krishna?
The grieving group reached the battlefield and boarded their chariot. Gandhari recognized and pointed out the bodies of many distinguished kings who had died: Duryodhana, Dushasana, Durmarshana, Durmukha, Bhurishrava, and Jayadratha, among others – showing them to Krishna.
What curse did Gandhari place upon Krishna?
Gandhari, having lost all her children in Krishna’s presence, accused him of enabling the war’s devastation and, even in Vyasa’s presence, cursed Krishna: just as the Kauravas perished in battle, so too should the Vrishni lineage meet its end in war at the close of Dwapara Yuga. Krishna and Vyasa, knowing fate’s course, silently accepted her curse. The description would be seen in the Mausala parva on this website.
How did Gandhari console Kunti?
Gandhari tried to console Kunti, showing her the scores of widows, wives of Kaurava princes, grieving on the battlefield. Uttarakumari was there, crying with the wives of the Upapandavas. Gandhari offered comfort to them all.
What did the palace people do after visiting the battlefield?
After attending the funeral rites, the palace people moved to the banks of the Ganga River, where they performed holy ablutions in Bhagirathi’s sacred waters.
Next post, Mahabharat: Shraddha Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Jalapradanika Parva would be presented separately in another article.
What are the benefits of reading this story?
On reading this story, children would gain more memory power, great moral strength in their lives in future; creating a sense of self-reliance, leading to peace and progress.
It is humbly prayed for the blessings of God Krishna upon us.
Readers may share this story with children, friends and family.
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