Shloka 38
दण्डधारवधः | The Slaying of Daṇḍadhāra
विप्रद्रुते बले तस्मिन् वध्यमाने समन्ततः । द्रौणिरेको5 भ्ययात् तूर्ण भीमसेनं महाबलम्,उनके द्वारा मारी जाती हुई आपकी वह सेना जब चारों ओर भागने लगी, तब अकेले अश्वत्थामाने तुरंत ही महाबली भीमसेनपर आक्रमण कर दिया
vipradrute bale tasmin vadhyamāne samantataḥ | drauṇir eko 'bhyayāt tūrṇaṃ bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam ||
Sañjaya said: When your army, being cut down on every side, broke and fled in disorder, Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā) alone rushed swiftly to confront the mighty Bhīmasena.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the midst of collective collapse, the verse foregrounds individual resolve: a warrior may choose to uphold his martial duty and personal allegiance even when the larger force is routed. Ethically, it also points to the tension between prudent withdrawal and the kṣatriya ideal of standing to face a formidable opponent.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops are being slaughtered and are fleeing in all directions. At that moment, Aśvatthāmā, alone, quickly advances to attack the powerful Bhīma, signaling a shift from mass battle to a focused confrontation.