Shloka 30
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
'साधुशिरोमणे! जैसे जलती हुई आग सूखे जंगल या तिनकोंकी राशिको जला डालती है, उसी प्रकार आज मैं एक साथ सोये हुए धृष्टद्युम्म आदि समस्त पांचालोंपर आक्रमण करके उन्हें मौतके घाट उतार दूँगा। उनका संहार कर लेनेपर ही मुझे शान्ति मिलेगी ।। पज्चालेषु भविष्यामि सूदयन्नद्य संयुगे । पिनाकपाणि: संक्रुद्धः स्वयं रुद्र: पशुष्विव,'जैसे प्रलयके समय क्रोधमें भरे हुए साक्षात् पिनाकधारी रुद्र समस्त पशुओं (प्राणियों)-पर आक्रमण करते हैं, उसी प्रकार आज युद्धमें मैं पांचालॉका विनाश करता हुआ उनके लिये कालरूप हो जाऊँगा
pañcāleṣu bhaviṣyāmi sūdayann adya saṁyuge | pinākapāṇiḥ saṁkruddhaḥ svayaṁ rudraḥ paśuṣv iva ||
Sañjaya said: “Today, in the thick of battle, I shall fall upon the Pāñcālas and slaughter them. Like Rudra himself—Pināka in hand, inflamed with wrath—descending upon living creatures, so will I become death to the Pāñcālas as I bring about their destruction.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wrath and vengeance can make a warrior see himself as an instrument of inevitable death, even invoking divine imagery to justify excess. Ethically, it points to the danger of sacralizing violence: when anger is framed as ‘Rudra-like’ inevitability, restraint and dharma are eclipsed.
In the Sauptika episode’s aftermath, the speaker’s side expresses an intent to annihilate the Pāñcālas in battle, comparing the impending slaughter to Rudra, bow in hand, attacking living beings. The line intensifies the mood of ruthless retribution that characterizes this parva.