Journey to the Battlefield
“The women of Hastinapura journey to Kurukshetra to see the devastation and mourn their loved ones, preparing for the profound grief that awaits them.”
Contains: Grief and loss, Anticipation of trauma, Emotional preparation, Mature themes
Story Summary
After the iron Bhima episode and Dhritarashtra's acceptance, the women of Hastinapura prepare to journey to the battlefield. Gandhari, who has lost all one hundred sons, prepares herself for the devastating sight that awaits. Kunti, carrying the secret of Karna's true lineage, grieves silently. Draupadi, who has lost all five of her sons, the Upapandavas, prepares to face their bodies. Dhritarashtra, now more accepting after Vidura's wisdom and the iron Bhima incident, also joins the journey. Vidura supports and guides them all. As they travel toward Kurukshetra, the anticipation of grief weighs heavily on everyone. They know what they will see—the battlefield where their loved ones fell, where their sons, husbands, and brothers died. The journey is somber, inevitable, necessary. They must face the reality of what the war has cost them, must see with their own eyes the devastation that has changed their lives forever. This story sets the stage for the profound lamentations that will follow on the battlefield.