Shloka 23
Pāṇḍya-vadha-anantaram Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ
Arjuna’s Response and the Renewed Battle
स तै्ह्वतो वातजवैस्तुरज्ै- द्रौणिर्दुढ पार्थशराभि भूत: । इयेष नावृत्य पुनस्तु योद््धुं पार्थेन सार्थ मतिमान् विमृश्य । जानज्जयं नियतं वृष्णिवीरे धनंजये चाजड़्विरसां वरिष्ठ:,अश्वत्थामा अर्जुनके बाणोंसे बहुत पीड़ित हो गया था। जब वायुके समान वेगशाली घोड़े उसे रणभूमिसे बहुत दूर हटा ले गये, तब उस बुद्धिमान् वीरने मन-ही-मन विचार करके पुनः लौटकर अर्जुनके साथ युद्ध करनेकी इच्छा त्याग दी। अंगिरा गोत्रवाले ब्राह्मणोंमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामा यह जान गया था कि वृष्णिवीर श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनकी विजय निश्चित है
sa tair hṛto vātajavais turagair drauṇir dūḍhaḥ pārthaśarābhibhūtaḥ | iyeṣa nāvṛtya punas tu yoddhuṃ pārthena sārthaṃ matimān vimṛśya | jānan jayaṃ niyataṃ vṛṣṇivīre dhanaṃjaye cājāḍyavirasāṃ variṣṭhaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Overpowered by Arjuna’s arrows, Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā was carried far away from the battlefield by his horses, swift as the wind. Reflecting with a clear mind, he abandoned the wish to turn back and fight again against Arjuna. For that foremost of the Aṅgirasas knew that victory was assured for the Vṛṣṇi hero Kṛṣṇa and for Dhanañjaya (Arjuna).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Clear-sighted discernment recognizes when outcomes are fixed by superior alignment of power and dharma; persistence then becomes mere obstinacy. Aśvatthāmā’s decision not to return underscores prudence and the acknowledgement of Kṛṣṇa’s decisive presence on Arjuna’s side.
Aśvatthāmā is badly struck by Arjuna’s arrows and is carried away from the fight by his fast horses. After reflecting, he gives up the intention to turn back and re-engage, realizing that victory is certain for Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.