Shloka 17
अथ तन्रैव संग्रामे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे । अपस॒व्य॑ ततश्नक्रे द्रौणिस्तत्र वृकोदरम्,इस प्रकार चलनेवाले उस भयंकर संग्राममें वहीं द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामाने भीमसेनको अपने दाहिने भागमें कर दिया
atha tanraiva saṅgrāme vartamāne sudāruṇe | apasavya tataś cakre drauṇis tatra vṛkodaram ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—সেই অতিভয়ংকর যুদ্ধ চলতে থাকলে দ্রৌণি অশ্বত্থামা অপসব্য হয়ে বৃকোদর ভীমকে নিজের ডান পাশে এনে নিল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within a dharmic war, actions are framed by codes of conduct and signs (auspicious/inauspicious). The verse highlights how warriors interpret direction and positioning not only tactically but also through an ethical-ritual lens, showing the Mahābhārata’s tension between martial necessity and moral symbolism.
As the fierce fighting continues, Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi) makes a maneuver described as apasavya (leftward/inauspicious) and arranges the encounter so that Bhīma (Vṛkodara) is on his right side—indicating a deliberate repositioning for combat.