Shloka 55

प्रासेन विद्ध॒वा द्रौ्णिं तु सुतसोमः प्रतापवान्‌ । पुनश्चासिं समुद्यम्य द्रोणपुत्रमुपाद्रवत्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ प्रतापी सुतसोमने द्रोणकुमारकों पहले प्राससे घायल करके फिर तलवार उठाकर उसपर धावा किया

prāsena viddhvā drauṇiṁ tu sutasomaḥ pratāpavān | punaścāsiṁ samudyamya droṇaputram upādravat |

Sañjaya said: The valiant Sutasoma struck Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā) with a spear. Then, raising his sword again, he rushed at Droṇa’s son.

प्रासेनwith a spear
प्रासेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रास
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
विद्ध्वाhaving pierced/wounded
विद्ध्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootव्यध्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), prior action
द्रौणिम्Drauni (son of Drona; Ashvatthaman)
द्रौणिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्रौणि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
सुतसोमःSutasoma
सुतसोमः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसुतसोम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रतापवान्mighty, valiant
प्रतापवान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रतापवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
असिम्a sword
असिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअसि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
समुद्यम्यhaving raised/lifted up
समुद्यम्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-उद्-यम्
Formक्त्वा/ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), prior action
द्रोणपुत्रम्Drona's son
द्रोणपुत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोणपुत्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उपाद्रवत्ran up/charged at
उपाद्रवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-आ-√द्रु
Formलङ् (imperfect), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
S
Sutasoma
D
Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
D
Droṇa
S
spear (prāsa)
S
sword (asi)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how, in the aftermath of adharma-driven violence, even righteous warriors are pulled into relentless retaliation; it invites reflection on the ethical collapse that war—especially night warfare and revenge—can produce.

Sutasoma first wounds Aśvatthāmā with a spear and then, drawing his sword, charges at him again, continuing the close-quarters fight against Droṇa’s son.