Shloka 82
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
अभश्र॒त्थामा त्वसम्भ्रान्तो रुद्रोपेन्द्रेन्द्रविक्रम:
abhyaśratthāmā tv asambhrānto rudropendra-indra-vikramaḥ
Sañjaya said: Then Aśvatthāmā, unshaken and fearless, advanced with a prowess likened to Rudra, Indra, and Upendra—moving forward in the fury of battle with unwavering resolve.
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadiness under extreme pressure: in war, a warrior’s effectiveness is tied to being asambhrānta—unshaken and clear-minded. Ethically, it points to the dangerous grandeur of power: divine comparisons magnify heroism while also foreshadowing the destructive consequences of unchecked martial force.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāmā’s demeanor and might as he proceeds in the battle. He is portrayed as fearless and formidable, his prowess compared to major deities (Rudra, Indra, Upendra), emphasizing the intensity of the ongoing conflict in Droṇa Parva.