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जलप्रदानिकपर्वन् (jalapradAnikaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Jalapradānikaparvan] (“the section relating to the gift of water to the deceased, ” the 85th of the minor parvans of the Mhbhr.
cf. Jalapradānika). § 618: Janamejaya inquired of Vaiśampāyana as to what Dhṛtarāshṭra, etc. (), did after the death of Duryodhana. Dhṛtarāshṭra's grief
Sañjaya comforted him, and suggested the performance of the obsequious rites of the fallen heroes. Dhṛtarāshṭra lamented ()
Sañjaya rebuked and consoled him (). Vidura addressed Dhṛtarāshṭra (XI,
1) and comforted him () (XI, 2)
charmed by Vidura's discourse, Dhrtarāshtra asked him to continue his observations on the vanity of human life
Vidura continued his discourse, and described human life as it runs (XI, 3) from the very beginning (XI, 4), comparing it to a wilderness abounding with dangers (XI, 5), explaining the comparison according to the religion of Moksha (XI, 6)
asked by Dhṛtarāshṭra, Vidura continued his discourse on human life (XI, 7). Dhṛtarāshṭra swooned away, but was comforted by Vyāsa, etc. (), wept and lamented
Vyāsa comforted him by explaining the secret history of the slaughter (he had seen the Earth in Indra's hall, complaining before the gods and D.-ṛ. and Nārada, and Vishṇu consoling her, saying that Duryodhana would cause her burden to be lightened by a battle in Kurukshetra), etc. (). Dhṛtarāshṭra promised to live
Vyāsa disappeared (XI, 8). Requested by Janamejaya (), Vaiśampāyana related: After Duryodhana had been slain, and all the troops slaughtered, Sañjaya, deprived of his spiritual sight, came back to Dhṛtarāshṭra, and recommended him to cause the obsequial rites to be performed. Dhṛtarāshṭra swooned away
Vidura comforted him (“Time drags all kinds of creatures away, ” etc.) (XI, 9). Dhṛtarāshṭra resolved to visit the field of battle with the Kuru ladies in his company. The Kuru ladies (Gāndhārī, Kuntī, etc.) were placed in chariots under Vidura's supervision
the royal household, with a large number of the citizens, started from Hāstinapura (XI, 10). Having proceeded a krośa, Dhṛtarāshṭra met with Aśvatthāman, etc. (). Kṛpa related to Gāndhārī the fall of Duryodhana in unfair fight, and their nightly attack on the camp of the Pāṇḍavas ()
then Aśvatthāman, etc., took leave of Dhṛtarāshṭra in order to conceal themselves from the wrath of the Pāṇḍavas, and urged their steeds to wards the banks of the Gaṅgā, where they separated from one another: Kṛpa went to Hāstinapura
Kṛtavarman to his own kingdom
Aśvatthāman set out for the abode of Vyāsa
“before the sun rose
it was after this that the sons of Pāṇḍu encountered Aśvatthāman and vanquished him” (XI, 11). Yudhishṭhira and his brothers set out in order to meet Dhṛtarāshṭra, accompanied by Kṛshṇa, etc. ()
they met the weeping ladies of the royal house on the way (), and saluted Dhṛtarāshṭra, who reluctantly embraced Yudhishṭhira, and broke an iron statue of Bhīma (that had been kept ready by Kṛshṇa), mistaking it for Bhīma himself
he then grieved for having slain Bhīma, fell down, and was raised by his charioteer Sañjaya
Kṛshṇa enlightened him, and told him not to cherish wrath (XI, 12). Certain maid-servants came and washed Dhṛtarāshṭra
then Kṛshṇa again addressed him, assuring him that the Pāṇḍavas were perfectly innocent ()
then Dhṛtarāshṭra embraced Bhīma, etc. () (XI, 13). Commanded by Dhṛtarāshṭra, the Pāṇḍava brothers with Kṛshṇa then proceeded to see Gāndhārī, who wished to curse Yudhishṭhira. The great Ṛ. Vyāsa, capable of proceeding everywhere with the fleetness of the wind, and capable of seeing the heart of every creature with his spiritual vision, understood her evil intentions, and having cleansed himself by the water of the Gaṅgā, he suddenly appeared, and told her not to be angry with the Pāṇḍavas, but remember that she had every day for the eighteen days that battle lasted, when Duryodhana asked her to bless him, said: “Thither goes victory where righteousness is.” Gāndhārī admitted that she and Dhṛtarāshṭra should protect the Pāṇḍavas with as much care as Kuntī herself protected them, the fault being with Duryodhana, etc. ()
but Bhīma's unfair combat with Duryodhana in the presence of Kṛshṇa moved her wrath (XI, 14). Bhīma addressed Gāndhārī, and extenuated his fault in having slain Duryodhana unfairly (“Duryodhana had formerly himself vanquished Yudhishṭhira unfairly, ” etc.) (). Gāndhārī then blamed Bhīma for drinking Duḥśāsana's blood, when Vṛshasena had deprived Nakula of his steeds
Bhīma denied that he had really drunk Duḥśāsana's blood
“Karṇa knew this well
seeing Nakula deprived by Vṛshasena of his steeds, I caused the rejoicing brothers to be filled with dread
when the tresses of Draupadī were seized, I uttered certain words in rage
I dared not leave that vow unaccomplished lest I should be regarded as having swerved from the duties of a kshatriya.” Gāndhārī then inquired after Yudhishṭhira, who appeared before her and invoked her curses on himself for his sinful slaughter of all her sons
Gāndhārī's glance (under the cloth that covered her eyes) blasted a nail of Yudhishṭhira's toe. Arjuna moved away to the seat of Kṛshṇa, and also the other Pāṇḍavas became restless. Gāndhārī then comforted the Pāṇḍavas and dismissed them. They then met with their mother Kuntī, who wept seeing their many sears. Draupadī wept for her children and Abhimanyu
Kuntī conseled her, and so did Gāndhārī (mentioning Vidura's predictions) (XI, 15).