Shloka 45
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
स एष भगवान्द्रोण: प्रजारूपेण वर्तते । तस्यात्मनोऽर्धं पत्न्यास्ते नान्वगाद्वीरसू: कृपी ॥ ४५ ॥
sa eṣa bhagavān droṇaḥ prajā-rūpeṇa vartate tasyātmano ’rdhaṁ patny āste nānvagād vīrasūḥ kṛpī
Dieser Droṇācārya besteht gewiss noch fort, vertreten in der Gestalt seines Sohnes. Seine Gattin Kṛpī vollzog kein Satī, da sie einen Sohn hatte.
The wife of Droṇācārya, Kṛpī, is the sister of Kṛpācārya. A devoted wife, who is according to revealed scripture the better half of her husband, is justified in embracing voluntary death along with her husband if she is without issue. But in the case of the wife of Droṇācārya, she did not undergo such a trial because she had her son, the representative of her husband. A widow is a widow only in name if there is a son of her husband existing. So in either case Aśvatthāmā was the representative of Droṇācārya, and therefore killing Aśvatthāmā would be like killing Droṇācārya. That was the argument of Draupadī against the killing of Aśvatthāmā.
FAQs
This verse states that Droṇa continues to exist “in the form of his progeny,” highlighting how one’s lineage can carry forward one’s presence and remembrance in the world.
Kṛpī is Droṇa’s wife and the mother of a heroic son (Aśvatthāmā). She is mentioned to show that although Droṇa lives on through his child, his wife remained behind and did not depart with him.
It reminds readers that actions and responsibilities echo through family and legacy—so one should live dharmically, mindful of how one’s life impacts descendants and those who remain.