Shloka 17
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहु: पुत्र दुर्योधनं तव,आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनसे ऐसा कहकर महाबाहु अश्वत्थामा समस्त धनुर्धरोंको त्रास देता हुआ युद्धके लिये शत्रुओंके सामने डट गया। प्राणियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामा आपके पुत्रोंका प्रिय करना चाहता था
sañjaya uvāca | evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ putra duryodhanaṃ tava, aśvatthāmā samasta-dhanurdharān trāsayan yuddhāya śatrūṇāṃ purato dṛḍham atiṣṭhat | prāṇināṃ śreṣṭho 'śvatthāmā tava putrāṇāṃ priyaṃ kartum aicchat |
Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus to your son Duryodhana, the mighty-armed Aśvatthāmā—striking fear into all the bowmen—stood firm before the enemy, ready for battle. That foremost of living warriors sought to do what was pleasing to your sons, driven by loyalty even amid the moral darkness of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: extraordinary martial power and steadfastness can be driven by loyalty to one’s side, yet such loyalty is morally ambiguous when aligned with an unrighteous cause. It invites reflection on whether pleasing one’s allies is sufficient justification for violent action.
After addressing Duryodhana, Ashvatthama takes a firm position facing the enemy, intimidating the opposing archers and preparing to fight. Sanjaya frames this as Ashvatthama’s effort to act in a way that benefits and pleases Dhritarashtra’s sons (the Kauravas).