SUMMARY OF STHRI PARVA

Sthri Parva consists three sub chapters namely Jalaprdanikaparva,

Strivilaapaparva and Shraadhaparva and totally it has 818 slokas in it.
I. JALAPRADANIKAPARVA
This parva consists of fifteen chapters i.e. from 1st to 15th. Dhrtarashtra was
grief-stricken with the death of his hundred sons. On seeing his condition Sanjay
said, ‘O King! Why do you become sorrowful? Eighteen army corps were killed in
this battle field. You offer libations to your sons, relatives and friends.’ After
listening to his words, Dhrtarashtra who was sorrowful said thus, ‘O Sanjaya! All
my sons, ministers, friends were killed. I will experience sorrow here. I never
listened to the words of welfare of Parasurama, Narada, Vyasa and others. Out of
affection on my son I didn’t listen to the words of welfare of Srikrishna and
Bhishma. The result of which is to be faced by me now. While consoling the sorrow
of Dhrtarashtra, Sanjay said thus, ‘O best among the kings! Your son Duryodhana
misbehaved a lot due to the pride of youth. The wicked Dussasana, Karna, Sakuni,
Citrasena and Salya were his ministers. He didn’t listen to anybody’s good words.
You too were neutral. You didn’t give him any good suggestions. There is no use of
repenting now. Hence, don’t be pathetic now.’ Thus Sanjaya consoled Dhrtarashtra.
While pacifying Dhrutarasthra, Vidura also said thus, ‘O king! Why are you grief-
stricken? This is the ultimate state for all the living beings. No one can trespass the
time. All the warriors have obtained a good path in the battle field. It’s not fair to
lament for them.’ When Dhrtarashtra questioned Vidura, he explained him about the
transitory nature of the universe. He also explained him about the actual situation of
this sorrowful world. He also said that human beings, who fall in the ocean of the
world, though fearful, will not get detached with the desire to live. Whereas, the
scholars will know the nature of the cycle of the world and being detached get
relieved from all the bonds of the world. O king! The scholars say that the body of
the living beings is a chariot. The Principle of Sattva is charioteer. The senses are
the horses. The Intellect driving action is the reins. Who ever follows the speed of
horses, will move like a wheel in the cycle of this world. Who ever controls the
senses will not fall in the bindings of the world.
While consoling the distressed Dhrtarashtra, sage Vyasa said thus,
‘O Dhrtarashtra! This world of living beings is transitory. The Eternal is Supreme
and ever lasting. Indeed the life ends with death only. It’s not fair to lament for this.
This destruction of Kauravas was certain. Nobody can stop God’s decision. I will
tell you that which I saw and listened in the court of gods. Long ago, in Indra’s
court, the Goddess of Earth requested the gods to fulfill fast the promised work.
Having listened to her words, Lord Vishnu said that the eldest among Drtharashtra’s
hundred sons accomplish her work. All the kings would kill one another in the battle
of Kurukshetra. Thus her burden would be declined. O Dhrtarashtra, Duryodhana is
a part of Kali, who was born from the womb of Gandhari, to destroy the world of
Kshatriyas. Fortunately, his brothers were also born of same kind. Sakuni his
maternal uncle and Karna also joined him. Your sons were destroyed by their own
offences. Do not lament for them. Pandavas didn’t do any offence.’ Having heard
the words of Vyasa, Dhrtarashtra said thus, ‘O the best among the Sages! I
understood that due to the inspiration of gods everything has happened. I will try not
to lament.’ Having heard his words, the Sage Vyasa disappeared from there.
Sanjaya lost his divine vision, when Duryodhaya was killed along with
his army. Having stood in the court of Dhrtarashtra, Sanjaya said, ‘O king every
body asked your son for peace. But he destroyed the entire earth due to his rivalry
with Pandavas. Your son was killed in the battle field along with his relatives and
army. You offer the libations to him.’ After hearing these words Dhrtarashtra fainted
and fell on the ground. Vidura, the knower of Dharma, having seen the condition of
Dhrtarashtra, came to him and said thus, ‘O king! You please do not lament. This is
the ultimate state of all the creatures. All the creatures are dependent on the time. No
one can trespass it. All those who were killed in the battle field went to the heaven.
What is the necessity to lament for them? O King! You control yourself and think
about your duty.’ Having heard the words of Vidura, the king ordered him to bring
fast Kunti, Gandhari and other women and went on his chariot. Gandhari, who was
lamenting for her son came near Dhrutarashtra along with Kunti and other women.
They all were crying a lot. Vidura consoled everybody. Along with Dhrtarashtra,
they all went to Krpacharya, Asvatthama and Krthavarma. On seeing Dhrtarashtra,
those three warriors spoke thus with tear-clogged voice, ‘O king! Your son has done
a very inappropriate deed and went to the heaven along with his companions. The
entire army is lost in the battle field. We three are left alive.’ Krupacharya said to
Gandhari who was lamenting for her son, ‘O devi! Your sons have fought bravely as
warriors and obtained the path of warriors. So, you should not lament for them.
Pandavas also didn’t gain much after the battle. Bhimasena killed your son
disloyally. Hence, when all the Pandavas were sleeping in the night, we headed by
Asvatthama, went to their camp and killed Dhrshtadyumna, all the Panchalas and the
five sons of Draupadi. Thus by killing the enemies of your son, we three are fleeing
away. We cannot stay here. At any time Pandavas may come here to take revenge on
us.’ Those three took the permission of Dhrtarashtra and bid farewell to each other
and went away on three different ways. Krpacharya went to Hastinapura, Krtavarma
to his own nation and Asvatthama went towards the hermitage of Vyasa. Those three
warriors reached their destinations even before the sun-rise. Thereafter, Pandavas
went to Asvathama and defeated him in the battle-field.
Yudhishthira, who was tormented by the sorrow of his sons’ demise, went to
Dhrtarashtra along with his brothers. Draupadi, along with the women of Paanchalas
followed them. Every body reached the bank of Ganges. There Yudhishthira was
surrounded by many women who were lamenting a lot and who were blaming him.
Having stridden the women flock Yudhishthira reached Dhrtarashtra and saluted
him. The rest of the Pandavas also saluted him and told their names. Grief-stricken
Dhrtarashtra embraced Yudhishthira unhappily and was searching for Bhimasena.
Then a wicked thought aroused in his mind. Having understood his mind Srikrishna
removed Bhimasena from there and with his hands he placed there an idol made of
iron. Dhrtarashtra thought that it was indeed Bhimasena and hard-pressed it with his
shoulders and broke that iron idol into pieces. The blood has flown from
Dhrtarashtra’s mouth and he fell on the ground. Thereafter, Sanjaya went and held
the king and while consoling him said that he shouldn’t have done like that. Slowly,
Dhrtarashtra’s anger got down and he sank in the ocean of deep sorrow. Srikrishna
convinced him by telling him the fact. Thereafter, Dhrtarashtra’s anger got down
totally and his mind obtained tranquility. He embraced Arjuna, Nakula and
Sahadeva. Thereafter all the Pandavas along with Srikrishna went to Gaandhari.
Gandhari decided to curse all the Pandavas. Having known this, Sage Vyasa came
there and instructed her to control her anger. Then Gandhari said, ‘O lord! I don’t
have envy with Pandavas. I even don’t want to see their destruction. My mind
became distressed by the sorrow of my sons. The destruction of Kuru’s clan was
made by the mistakes of my brother Sakuni, Karna and Dussasana. There was no
mistake with the sons of Pandus. I didn’t like the disloyal that was done by
Bhimasena to Duryodhana in the battle of mace, in the presence of Srikrishna.
Inspite of knowing that Duryodhana was stronger than Bhima in the art of mace,
Bhima hit him under the naval of Duryodhana, which increases my anger.’ Thus
listening to the words of Gandhari, scared Bhimasena obediently told thus, ‘It may
be right or wrong. Having feared from Duryodhana, I did thus to protect my life.
Nobody was daring enough to kill Duryodhana. Hence, I misbehaved with him. He
insulted Draupadi in the assembly. He showed her his left thigh in the court. So I hit
on his thighs.’ Then Gandhari accepted her son’s mistake. She proclaimed that the
way Bhima killed Dussasana and drank his blood was also a wicked deed. While
replying her Bhimasena said, ‘it’s a fact that one shouldn’t drink the blood of others.
Then how can one drink one’s own blood? O mother! You please don’t worry. That
blood did not cross my teeth and lips. Only my two hands were drenched with
blood. I did thus, to fulfill my vow.’ Then Gandhari said, ‘I wouldn’t have been so
much distressed if one of my hundred sons, who had committed very few sins is
survived.’ Having said thus, angrily she asked for Yudhishthira. Having heard this,
Yudhishthira who was scared, said thus with pleasing words, ‘O devi! Here is
Yudhishthira who is the cause of your sons’ slay. You curse me.’ Having said thus,
Yudhishthira bent his body and was about to fell on her feet. In the meanwhile,
Gandhari saw the nails of the fingers of his feet from the bandage of her eyes. No
sooner she saw them, those beautiful nails turned black. After seeing the condition
of his elder brother Arjuna hid behind Srikrishna. Slowly Gaandhari’s anger went
down and she consoled every one as a mother. Thereafter, Pandavas went to their
mother Kunti. She pacified Draupadi who was lamenting a lot. Further, they both
along with Pandavas went to Gaandhari. Gaandhari convinced and explained
Draupadi and Kunti that it was due to her mistake the clan of Kuru was destroyed.
2.STHRIVILAAPAPARVA
This sub-parva comprises of ten chapters i.e. from 16th to 25th chapters and
contains 327 number of slokas. Gandhari saw the place of destruction of her sons
with her divine vision. She lamented a lot by seeing that inauspicious scene.
Thereafter, following the orders of Sage Vyasa, Dhrtrashtra and Pandavas went to
the battle field. The women of Kuru’s clan lamented a lot by seeing the bodies of
their husbands, brothers and relatives. Gandhari, who saw the body of Duryodhana
that was surrounded by her daughter-in-law who was crying a lot, went to Srikrishna
and lamented a lot. She became distressed by seeing her other sons and brother.
Having seen the sorrow of other women, Gaandhari expressed her sorrow to
Srikrishna.
3) SHRAADDHAPARVA
This sub-parva consists of two chapters i.e. from 26th to 27th chapters and contains74
slokas. Lord Srikrishna said thus to Gandhari, ‘O Gaandhari! Do not lament. Indeed
it’s because of your fault Kauravas were destroyed. You did a mistake by supporting
Duryodhana’s wicked behavior. Why do you want to put this blame on me?’
Gaandhari remained silent by listening to the unpleasant words of Srikrishna.
Having followed the orders of Dhrtarashtra, Yudhishthira offered the ultimate
libations to everyone. Kunti revealed the birth secret of Karna. After listening to
this, Yudhishtira lamented a lot and said that she made him to kill his elder brother
by not revealing this secret. Further he cursed that from then onwards women cannot
conceal any secret matter. Having said thus, he along with his brothers came out of
the Ganges to its bank.

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