Shloka 44
हतं मयाद्य शंसेथा धृष्टद्युम्नं नराधिप । “नरेश्वर! फिर सम्पूर्ण धनुर्धरोंके ध्वजस्वरूप आचार्यका पूजन करके उनसे कह दें कि “आज अअभश्व॒त्थामाके द्वारा धृष्टद्युम्म मार डाला गया” || ४३ $ || परिष्वजेथा राजानं बाह्विकं सुमहारथम्
sañjaya uvāca | hataṃ mayādya śaṃsethā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ narādhipa | pariṣvajethā rājānaṃ bāhvikaṃ sumahāratham ||
Sanjaya said: “O king, you should now proclaim: ‘Today I have slain Dhṛṣṭadyumna.’ And you should embrace the king Bāhlīka, that great chariot-warrior.” In the grim aftermath of the night massacre, the speech frames killing as a report to be announced and validated, and it urges a gesture of solidarity among allies—revealing how victory is sought not only by force but also by public declaration, morale, and the bonding of the war-party despite the ethically dark means employed.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, actions are followed by narration and endorsement: killing is not only done but also proclaimed, and alliances are reinforced through public gestures. It implicitly raises ethical tension—celebration and validation of a death achieved in a morally troubling context.
Sanjaya reports instructions to the king: announce that Dhṛṣṭadyumna has been killed ‘today’ (in the night raid’s aftermath) and embrace King Bāhlīka, a major ally and chariot-warrior, as a sign of solidarity and shared triumph.