Shloka 159
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
साश्वसूतध्वजं यान भस्म कृत्वा महाप्रभा । विवेश वसुधां भित्त्वा साशनिर्भुशदारुणा,वह अत्यन्त प्रकाशभान तथा परम दारुण अशनि घोड़े, सारथि और ध्वजसहित घटोत्कचके रथको भस्म करके पथ्वीको छेदकर उसके भीतर समा गयी
saśvasūtadhvajaṃ yānaṃ bhasma kṛtvā mahāprabhā | viveśa vasudhāṃ bhittvā sāśanir bhṛśadāruṇā ||
وكانت تلك الأشَني شديدة الإشعاع بالغة القسوة، فأحرقت عربة غَطوتكچا—بخيولها وسائقها ورايتها—حتى صارت رمادًا؛ ثم شقّت الأرض وغاصت فيها واختفت.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the terrifying finality of violence in war: brilliance, strength, and martial display (chariot, banner, horses) can be annihilated instantly by a superior weapon. It implicitly warns against pride in power and shows how swiftly life and glory can be reduced to ashes.
Sañjaya describes a thunderbolt-like missile striking and incinerating a chariot along with its horses, charioteer, and banner, after which the weapon pierces the earth and vanishes into it—depicting the aftermath of a devastating strike in the Drona Parva battle.