Shloka 273
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
रथेन शिबिरं प्रायाज्जिघांसुर्द्धिषतो बली | राजन! इस उपायसे धृष्टद्युम्मको यमलोक भेजकर तेजस्वी अश्वत्थामा उसके खेमेसे बाहर निकला और सुन्दर दिखायी देनेवाले अपने रथके पास आकर उसपर सवार हो गया। इसके बाद वह बलवान वीर अन्य शत्रुओंको मार डालनेकी इच्छा रखकर अपनी गर्जनासे सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको प्रतिध्वनित करता हुआ रथके द्वारा प्रत्येक शिविरपर आक्रमण करने लगा
rathena śibiraṃ prāyāj jighāṃsur dhiṣato balī | rājan! asmin upāyena dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ yamalokaṃ preṣya tejasvī aśvatthāmā tasya khemād bahir niṣkrāntaḥ, sundara-dṛśyaṃ sva-rathaṃ prāpya tam āruroha | tataḥ sa balavān vīraḥ anyān śatrūn api hantum icchan, sva-garjanayā sarvā diśaḥ pratidhvanayan, rathena pratyekaṃ śibiraṃ prati ākramaṇam akarot ||
Sañjaya said: O King, by this stratagem the radiant Aśvatthāmā sent Dṛṣṭadyumna to Yama’s realm. He came out from that tent, approached his splendid chariot, and mounted it. Then that mighty warrior—still intent on slaying the remaining foes—made all the directions resound with his roar and began to assault each camp in turn with his chariot.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vengeance can drive a warrior beyond regulated, dharmic combat into terror-based slaughter. By framing Dṛṣṭadyumna’s death as being sent to Yama’s realm and showing Aśvatthāmā’s continued intent to kill, it invites reflection on the ethical collapse that can follow grief and rage in war.
After killing Dṛṣṭadyumna in the night raid, Aśvatthāmā exits the tent, mounts his chariot, and—roaring so that all directions echo—begins attacking the remaining camps one by one, continuing the nocturnal assault on the Pāṇḍava side.