Shloka 56
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
सुतसोमस्य सासिं त॑ बाहुं छित्त्वा नरर्षभ । पुनरप्याहनत् पाश्वें स भिन्नहृदयो5पतत्
Sutasomasya sāsiṃ taṃ bāhuṃ chittvā nararṣabha | punar apy āhanat pārśve sa bhinnahṛdayo 'patat ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—হে নৰশ্ৰেষ্ঠ! অশ্বত্থামাই সুতসোমৰ তৰোৱালসহ বাহু কাটি পুনৰ তাৰ পাৰ্শ্বত প্ৰহাৰ কৰিলে। বক্ষ আৰু হৃদয়-প্ৰদেশ বিদীৰ্ণ হৈ সুতসোম ভূমিত লুটাই পৰিল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare, when stripped of restraint and dharma, becomes mere butchery; it implicitly contrasts regulated kṣatriya combat with the moral collapse of a nocturnal slaughter.
Sañjaya narrates Aśvatthāman’s attack: he severs Sutasoma’s arm along with his sword and then strikes his side, causing a fatal rupture in the chest/heart-region, and Sutasoma collapses.