શ્રીમદ્ભાગવતપુરાણમ્

પાંડવોના પુત્રોના મૃત્યુ પછી, દ્રૌપદી, whose face was drenched in tears, repeatedly lamented their loss. She prayed earnestly that ગૌતમીએ, the mother of the culprit, might not have to endure such grief as she herself had suffered for her sons. She wished that the pain she felt would not befall another mother. It was well known that if the બ્રાહ્મણ વર્ગ got angered by the misconduct of ક્ષત્રિય, even if the latter were pure, the entire lineage could be swiftly destroyed. The son of Dharma, the righteous king, listened to the queen's words, which were filled with dharma, fairness, compassion, truth, and impartiality. All the greats—નકુલ, સહદેવ, યુયુધાન, ધનંજય, the divine son of દેવકી, and others, both men and women—were present in that assembly. Then ભીમ, furious, declared that the person who had killed sleeping children without any cause, neither for his own benefit nor for his master's, deserved only death. Hearing both ભીમ and દ્રૌપદી’s words, the four-armed ભગવાન, looking lovingly at his friend, spoke with a gentle smile. He said that although a બ્રાહ્મણ should not be killed, even if he is an aggressor, an aggressor does deserve death. He reminded them that he had taught both sides and that his instructions should be upheld. He urged them to fulfill the promise made to the Kuru clan, which was given to comfort their beloveds, and to do what was dear to ભીમસેન, દ્રૌપદી, and himself. Suddenly, understanding the intent of હરિ, અર્જુન took his sword and cut off the jewel, along with the hair, from the head of the twice-born offender. The culprit, his brilliance diminished by the sin of killing a child, was released, bound with a girdle, deprived of the jewel’s radiance, and led out from the camp. The punishment for those who are બ્રાહ્મણ in name only is to have their head shaved, wealth taken away, and be expelled from their place; no other punishment is prescribed. All the પાંડવ, afflicted with grief for their son, along with કૃષ્ણા, performed the necessary rites for the departed, including carrying out the bodies. In the seventh chapter, શ્રી ભગવાન spoke, saying that what was asked of him matched his own wish. Even બ્રહ્મા, શિવ, and the guardians of the worlds all desired to dwell in his realm. Meanwhile, the people flourished in happiness as loving couples cared for their children, delighting in their innocent cooing and babbling. The gentle touch of their wings, their sweet sounds, and charming gestures brought joy to their parents, who were free from sorrow. Bound by affection and deluded by વિષ્ણુની માયા, the couple, though troubled, nurtured their children and the people. Once, for the sake of their young ones, the couple ventured out into the forest to seek food, wandering for a long time. By chance, a hunter roaming the forest saw them, spread his net, and captured the young birds as they approached their nest. The male and female pigeons, always eager to feed their offspring, returned to their nest with food. The female pigeon, seeing her children trapped in the net, rushed toward them, crying out in distress as her young ones cried. Filled with affection and sorrow, confused by illusion, she herself became ensnared in the net, losing awareness as she saw her children bound. The male pigeon, seeing his beloved children and wife—dearer than his own life—bound, lamented in deep sorrow. He mourned his fate, regretting his fruitless pursuit of the three aims of life as a householder. His devoted wife, his goddess, had left him alone in an empty house, ascending to heaven with their virtuous sons. Left bereft of wife and children, he wondered why he should continue living, afflicted by misery. Surrounded by his own offspring, seized by death’s grip, the pitiable bird struggled helplessly, ultimately falling in ignorance despite seeing the arrows. The cruel hunter, satisfied with his catch, took the pigeon, his mate, and their young—householders all—back to his home. Thus, a householder whose mind is not at peace, who delights in dualities like the bird and maintains his family with attachment, sinks down, bound by his connections. One who attains the human world, where the door to liberation stands open, but remains attached to household life like a bird, is known as one who, having climbed up, has fallen down. Later, Sūta narrated that the women, led by કૃષ્ણા, went to the ગંગા to offer water for their departed relatives. They offered water, lamented intensely, and bathed in the river sanctified by the lotus feet of હરિ and by બ્રહ્મા, the unborn. There, Madhava saw the king of Kurus, ધૃતરાષ્ટ્ર, seated with his younger brother, along with ગાંધારી, stricken with grief for her sons, પૃથા, and કૃષ્ણા. Along with the sages, he comforted those who had lost their relatives and were overwhelmed with sorrow, showing them the inevitable course of time, which cannot be countered. Having restored Ajātaśatru his kingdom, which had been lost to gamblers, and having slain the unrighteous kings tainted by the touch of Kaca, he fulfilled his purpose. He had him perform three horse sacrifices with excellent arrangements, spreading his pure fame in all directions like Indra. Having taken leave of the sons of પાંડુ, accompanied by Satyaki and Uddhava, and honored by Vyāsa and other sages, he honored them in return. Resolving to depart, he mounted his chariot to go to Dvārakā, but encountered Uttarā, who ran toward him, overwhelmed by fear. Uttarā pleaded, "Protect me, protect me, O great yogin, God of gods, Lord of the universe! I see no other refuge but you, where death threatens on all sides." She cried, "O Lord, a blazing iron arrow is rushing toward me! Let it burn me if it must, but, O master, do not let my unborn child be destroyed." Hearing her words, the Lord, affectionate to his devotees, understood that the weapon of Droṇa's son was intended to destroy the Pandava line.