Shloka 190
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
तं॑ सिद्धगन्धर्वपिशाचसंघा नागा: सुपर्णा: पितरो वयांसि | रक्षोगणा भूतगणाश्र द्रौणि- मपूजयजन्नप्सरस: सुराश्ष,उस समय वहाँ सिद्धों, गन्धर्वों, पिशाचों, नागों, सुपर्णों, पितरों, पक्षियों, राक्षसों, भूतों, अप्सराओं तथा देवताओंने भी द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामाकी भूरि-भूरि प्रशंसा की
taṁ siddhagandharvapiśācasaṅghā nāgāḥ suparṇāḥ pitaro vayāṁsi | rakṣogaṇā bhūtagaṇāś ca drauṇim apūjayann apsarasaḥ surāś ca ||
Sañjaya said: There, hosts of Siddhas, Gandharvas, and Piśācas—along with Nāgas, Suparṇas, the Pitṛs, birds, companies of Rākṣasas and Bhūtas, as well as Apsarases and the gods—honoured Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman, praising him again and again. The scene underscores how, amid the frenzy of war, extraordinary martial power can draw acclaim even from non-human and celestial beings, raising a quiet ethical tension between mere prowess and righteous conduct (dharma).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fame and adulation can follow sheer power, even in a morally fraught war. It invites reflection on the difference between being celebrated and being righteous: acclaim from many beings does not automatically certify dharma.
Sañjaya reports that numerous celestial and non-human hosts gather and honour Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son), praising him repeatedly—portraying his formidable presence on the battlefield as drawing supernatural recognition.