Shloka 47
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
स घोररूपो व्यचरत् कालवच्छिविरे ततः । अपश्यद् द्रौपदीपुत्रानवशिष्टांश्व सोमकान्,वह भयानक रूपधारी द्रोणकुमार सारे शिविरमें कालके समान विचरने लगा। उसने द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्रों और मरनेसे बचे हुए सोमकोंको देखा
sa ghorarūpo vyacarat kālavac chivire tataḥ | apaśyad draupadīputrān avaśiṣṭāṃś ca somakān |
قال سانجيا: ثم إنه، وقد اتخذ هيئةً مروّعة، أخذ يجوب المعسكر كأنما الموت ذاته. وهناك رأى أبناء دروبدي، ورأى أيضًا من بقي من السومَكَة ممن نجوا.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames uncontrolled vengeance as a force resembling Kāla (Death/Time), suggesting that when one abandons restraint and dharma in war, one becomes an agent of indiscriminate destruction, bringing tragedy upon the innocent and the already-defeated.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāmā roaming the sleeping camp in a terrifying state, and noticing Draupadī’s five sons along with the remaining Somaka warriors—setting the stage for the ensuing slaughter in the Sauptika episode.