Shloka 26
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
जयं मत्वा55त्मनश्वैव श्रान्ता व्यायामकर्शिता: । “आज अपनी जीत हुई जान विजयसे सुशोभित होनेवाले पांचाल योद्धा बड़े हर्षमें भरकर कवच उतार, जूओंमें जुते हुए घोड़ोंको खोलकर बेखटके सो रहे होंगे। वे थके तो होंगे ही, विशेष परिश्रमके कारण चूर-चूर हो गये होंगे ।। तेषां निशि प्रसुप्तानां सुस्थानां शिबिरे स्वके
sa jaya uv01ca |
jaya matv01 01tmana5b caiva 5br01nt01 vy01y01ma-kar5bit01 |
01j01tma-jay01 (iti) matv01 vijaya-5brobhit01 p01 c4c01l01 yodh01 mah01-har 63a-samanvit01 |
kavaca apah01ya yuga-yukt01n a5bv01n vimocya nirbhay01 supt01 bhavi 63yanti |
te 6301 ni5bi prasupt01n01 susth01n01 5bibire svake ||
Sanjaya said: Thinking, Victory is ours, the Panchala warriors, adorned by their triumph, will be filled with great joy. Having taken off their armor and unyoked the horses that were harnessed to the chariots, they will sleep without fear in their own camp at night. They will surely be exhausted, worn down by the strain of exertion.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how triumph can breed complacency: after victory and exhaustion, warriors feel secure and let down their guard. Ethically, it foreshadows the danger of attacking the defenseless and raises questions about the limits of righteous conduct in war.
Sanjaya describes the Panchala forces as believing they have won, removing armor, unyoking horses, and sleeping fearlessly in their own camp at night, exhausted from exertiona setup for the impending nocturnal assault in the Sauptika episode.