Shloka 21
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनं विरराम परंतप: । सुत: पाज्चालराजस्य आक्रान्तो बलिना भृूशम्,ऐसा कहकर बलवान शत्रुके द्वारा बड़े जोरसे दबाया हुआ शत्रुसंतापी पांचालराजकुमार धृष्टद्युम्न चुप हो गया
evam uktvā tu vacanaṃ virarāma parantapaḥ | sutaḥ pāñcālarājasya ākrānto balinā bhṛśam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Nachdem er diese Worte gesagt hatte, verstummte der feindversengende Prinz des Königs von Pāñcāla—vom mächtigen Angreifer überwältigt und mit großer Wucht niedergepresst.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in adharma-driven violence, moral appeal and warrior dignity can be silenced by brute force. It invites reflection on the ethical collapse of warfare when killing is done through overpowering a helpless opponent rather than fair combat.
After speaking his last words, the Pāñcāla prince Dhṛṣṭadyumna stops speaking because he is being forcefully subdued by a powerful attacker during the night raid described in the Sauptika Parva.