Shloka 19
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
व्यासजीने कहा--द्रोणकुमार! तूने हमलोगोंका अनादर करके यह भयंकर कर्म किया है, ब्राह्मण होनेपर भी तेरा आचार ऐसा गिर गया है और तूने क्षत्रियरर्मको अपना लिया है; इसलिये देवकीनन्दन श्रीकृष्णने जो उत्तम बात कही है, वह सब तेरे लिये होकर ही रहेगी, इसमें संशय नहीं है ।।
Vyāsa uvāca—Droṇakumāra! tvayāsmān anādṛtya idaṁ bhīṣaṇaṁ karma kṛtam; brāhmaṇo ’pi san ācāras te ’dhaḥ patitaḥ, kṣatriyadharmaṁ ca tvayā upāttaḥ. tasmād Devakīnandana-Śrīkṛṣṇena yā uttamā vāk proktā sā sarvā tavaiva bhavitavyā; atra saṁśayo nāsti. Aśvatthāmovāca—sahaiva bhavatā brahman sthāsyāmi puruṣeṣv iha; satyavāg astu bhagavān ayaṁ ca Puruṣottamaḥ.
Vyasa said: “O son of Drona, by showing contempt for us you have committed this dreadful deed. Though a brahmin by birth, your conduct has fallen low, and you have taken up the way of the kshatriya. Therefore, the noble pronouncement made by Sri Krishna, the son of Devaki, will surely come to pass in your case—there is no doubt.” Ashvatthama replied: “O Brahmin, among men I shall remain here only in your company. May this Blessed Lord, the Supreme Person, be true to his word.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Birth-status (being a brahmin) does not safeguard one from moral fall; conduct (ācāra) determines ethical standing. Violent, transgressive action brings inevitable consequence, and Krishna’s truthful pronouncement is presented as inescapable moral causality.
Vyasa rebukes Ashvatthama for a horrific act done in contempt, declaring that Krishna’s stated outcome for him will certainly occur. Ashvatthama, acknowledging Krishna as truth-speaking Puruṣottama, says he will remain among humans only in Vyasa’s company.