Shloka 15
द्रौणिश्वुकोप पार्थाय कृष्णाय च विशेषतः । स तु यत्तो रथे स्थित्वा वार्युपस्पृश्य वीर्यवान्
drauṇiśv-ukopa pārthāya kṛṣṇāya ca viśeṣataḥ | sa tu yatto rathe sthitvā vāry upaspṛśya vīryavān ||
Sañjaya sprach: Aśvatthāman, der Sohn Droṇas, entbrannte vor Zorn gegen Pārtha (Arjuna) und besonders gegen Kṛṣṇa. Doch der mächtige Krieger bezwang sich, blieb auf seinem Wagen stehen und vollzog das Wasserberührungsritual—eine gefasste Vorbereitung vor der Tat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid battlefield fury, a warrior is expected to maintain self-control and act with deliberation; the gesture of touching water (upaspṛśya) signals composed readiness and adherence to customary discipline rather than impulsive violence.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman becomes angry at Arjuna and especially at Kṛṣṇa, but he restrains himself, stands on his chariot, and performs a brief water-touching rite (ācamana-like purification) as he prepares for the next action in the fight.