Shloka 31
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
हतो दुर्योधन: पापो राज्यस्य परिपन्थिक: । दुःशासनस्य रुधिरं पीत॑ विस्फुरतो मया
hato duryodhanaḥ pāpo rājyasya paripanthi-kaḥ | duḥśāsanasya rudhiraṃ pītaṃ visphurato mayā ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: «لقد قُتل دوريوذانا الآثم—عدوُّ مملكتنا ومعطِّلُها. وحين كان دوحشاسانا يتلوّى ويصارع، شربتُ دمه. وهكذا استُوفي الثأر كاملاً. والآن لا يستطيع من أراد الكلام أن يعيّرنا أو يلومنا بعد اليوم. ولما قهرنا أشوَتّامان ابن درونا، أبقيناه حيًّا لا لشيء إلا لأنه برهميٌّ ولأنه ابنُ مُعلّمنا.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension between righteous retribution and excess: vengeance is claimed as ‘fulfilled,’ yet the imagery of drinking blood underscores how war can push even justified anger toward transgressive violence; simultaneously, sparing Aśvatthāman due to brāhmaṇa-status and guru-lineage shows dharma operating as a restraint even amid hatred.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) declares that Duryodhana has been killed and that Duḥśāsana’s blood was drunk while he writhed—presented as repayment for past wrongs; the statement adds that Aśvatthāman, though defeated, was left alive out of respect for his being a brāhmaṇa and the son of Droṇa.