Shloka 21

Sauptika-parva Adhyāya 13 — Bhīmasena’s Pursuit of Drauṇi and the Release of a Divine Astra

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्टूल द्रोणपुत्र: प्रतापवान्‌

Transliteration

ity uktvā rājaśārṭūla droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having spoken thus, the mighty son of Droṇa—valiant in prowess—then proceeded further, addressing the king as a “tiger among rulers.” The line marks a narrative transition: after declaring his intent, Aśvatthāmā moves from words to action, foreshadowing the grave ethical consequences that follow in the Sauptika episode.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active (parasmaipada sense), prior action

• राजशार्दूल: O tiger among kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजशार्दूल
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• द्रोणपुत्रः: the son of Droṇa (Aśvatthāman)
• द्रोणपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपुत्र
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty, valiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Aśvatthāmā (Droṇaputra)
• Droṇa
• the king addressed as rājaśārṭūla (contextually Dhṛtarāṣṭra/Janamejaya depending on frame)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse itself is a connective narrator’s line, but in context it underscores a moral hinge: once a warrior resolves upon a course driven by wrath and vengeance, speech turns into irreversible action—often leading to adharma and suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that after speaking, the powerful son of Droṇa (Aśvatthāmā) proceeds onward; the honorific address ‘rājaśārṭūla’ signals a formal epic style and transitions into the next action in the Sauptika episode.