Gandhari's Lament (A Translation)

গান্ধাৰীৰ খেদ । অবনী চক্রবর্তী

I wiped the tears from your cheek

With my soft palm

In the hope that you’d smile,

That you’d play.

My bruised body

A heart pierced with pain.

My child, how will you ever understand the agony of extortion?

Nourished with my life-blood, my milk,

You are muted.

Muted are the claims of the voice.

The savior came to heal me,

Instead shredded my tissues into bits.

Where are the bleeding women?

Where are they?

Why, I have no inkling!

Only if I could hold you once before you left

O’ my stubborn child.