Shloka 14
माल्यप्रवरसंयुक्ते धूपैश्नूर्णश्व वासिते । भरतनन्दन! धृष्टद्युम्नके उस डेरेमें प्रवेश करके द्रोणकुमारने देखा कि पांचालराजकुमार पास ही बहुमूल्य बिछौनोंसे युक्त तथा रेशमी चादरसे ढकी हुई एक विशाल शपय्यापर सो रहा है। वह शय्या श्रेष्ठ मालाओंसे सुसज्जित तथा धूप एवं चन्दन चूर्णसे सुवासित थी ।। १२-१३ ई || तं॑ शयानं महात्मानं विश्रब्धमकुतो भयम्
mālyapravarasaṃyukte dhūpaiś cūrṇaiś ca vāsite | bharatanandana dhṛṣṭadyumnasya tadā śibire praviśya droṇakumārō dadarśa pañcālarājakumāraṃ samīpe bahumūlyāstaraṇopetaṃ kauśeyācchāditāṃ vipulāṃ śayyāṃ śayānam | sā śayyā śreṣṭhamālyaiḥ susajjitā dhūpacandanacūrṇasuvāsitā || taṃ śayānaṃ mahātmānaṃ viśrabdham akuto bhayam ||
Sañjaya said: O scion of Bharata, entering the camp of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Droṇa’s son beheld the Pāñcāla prince asleep nearby upon a vast couch furnished with costly bedding and covered with a silken sheet. That bed was adorned with excellent garlands and perfumed with incense and powdered sandalwood. There he lay—high-souled, relaxed, and free from fear—unaware of the peril that the night’s treachery was about to bring.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of the Sauptika episode: striking an enemy who is asleep and unafraid intensifies the sense of adharma. The luxurious, peaceful setting contrasts with impending violence, prompting reflection on how vengeance can override warrior ethics and compassion.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāman entering Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s camp and seeing him asleep on a richly prepared, perfumed bed. Dhṛṣṭadyumna is relaxed and fearless, unaware that Aśvatthāman has come with lethal intent during the night.