Shloka 80
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
दौ्णिं प्राच्छादयद् बाणै: स्वर्भानुरिव भास्करम् | तदनन्तर अपने चक्रको धरतीपर गिराया हुआ देख घटोत्कचने अपने बाणोंकी वर्षासे अश्व॒त्थामाको उसी प्रकार ढक दिया, जैसे राहु सूर्यको आच्छादित कर देता है ।। घटोत्कचसुत: श्रीमान् भिन्नाउजनचयोपम:
sañjaya uvāca |
drauṇiṁ prācchādayad bāṇaiḥ svarbhānur iva bhāskaram |
tad-anantaraṁ apane cakra-ko dharatī-par girāyā huā dekh ghaṭotkacane apane bāṇoṁ-kī varṣā-se aśvatthāmā-ko usī prakāra ḍhak diyā, jaise rāhu sūrya-ko ācchādit kar detā hai ||
ghaṭotkaca-sutaḥ śrīmān bhinnāñjana-cayopamaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā) was covered over by a dense shower of arrows, as the eclipsing demon Svarbhānu (Rāhu) veils the Sun. Then, seeing his discus fall to the ground, Ghaṭotkaca, with a renewed downpour of shafts, likewise enveloped Aśvatthāmā—just as Rāhu obscures the solar orb. The illustrious son of Ghaṭotkaca appeared like a heap of shattered collyrium, dark and formidable amid the storm of weapons.
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare intensifies through retaliation: when a weapon is lost or a setback occurs, the fighter responds with renewed force. Ethically, it illustrates the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between valor and the spiraling consequences of anger and competitive escalation on the battlefield.
In the Drona Parva battle scene, Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi) is overwhelmed by a thick barrage of arrows, compared to the Sun being eclipsed by Rāhu. After Ghaṭotkaca sees his discus fall, he answers by further blanketing Aśvatthāmā with an even heavier rain of arrows; the verse also notes the dark, striking appearance of Ghaṭotkaca’s son.