Shloka 39
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
अथ द्रौणिरम॑हेष्वास: पाण्ड्यं शत्रुनिबर्हणम् । विरथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठ नाहनद् युद्धकाड्क्षया
atha drauṇir amaheṣvāsaḥ pāṇḍyaṃ śatrunibarhaṇam | virathaṃ rathināṃ śreṣṭha nāhanad yuddhakāṅkṣayā ||
তখন দ्रोণপুত্র অশ্বত্থামা—মহাধনুর্ধর—শত্রুনাশক, রথীদের শ্রেষ্ঠ পাণ্ড্যকে রথহীন করল; কিন্তু তার সঙ্গে আরও যুদ্ধ করার বাসনায় তাকে বধ করল না।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, a warrior’s choices can reflect values beyond mere victory—such as restraint, honor, and the wish to face an opponent in a ‘proper’ contest rather than killing him at a moment of helplessness.
Aśvatthāman disables Pāṇḍya by making him chariotless, but refrains from killing him immediately because he wants to continue fighting him, treating him as a worthy opponent.