Shloka 80
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
अपेतशस्त्रसन्नाहान् सन्नद्धान् पाण्डुसूंजयान् । प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय द्रौणि: प्रहरतां वर:,पाण्डवों और सूंजयोंमेंसे जिन्होंने अस्त्र-शस्त्र और कवच उतार दिये थे तथा जिन लोगोंने पुन: कवच बाँध लिये थे, उन सबको प्रहार करनेवाले योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ द्रोणपुत्रने मृत्युके लोकमें भेज दिया
apetaśastrasannāhān sannaddhān pāṇḍusūñjayān | prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya drauṇiḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Drauṇi—foremost among those who strike—sent to the realm of Death the Pāṇḍavas and the Sṛñjayas alike: those who had laid aside their weapons and armor, and those who had again strapped on their mail. The verse underscores the night’s ruthless slaughter, where the usual restraints of righteous combat are eclipsed by vengeance and indiscriminate killing.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical collapse in war when vengeance overrides dharma: killing those who are unarmed or otherwise defenseless is portrayed as a grim transgression, even if some victims had re-armed. It frames Drauṇi’s act as indiscriminate slaughter rather than righteous combat.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi) is killing the Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors (Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas) during the night raid—both those who had removed their armor and weapons and those who managed to arm themselves again—sending them to death.