Shloka 73
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
द्रौणे: पापो5स्त्यभिप्रायस्तेनास्मि सहसोत्थित: । पाण्डवानां वधे रात्रौ बुद्धिस्तेन प्रदर्शिता,राजेन्द्र! तदनन्तर वे सहसा उठकर खड़े हो गये और व्यासजीके चरणोंमें मस्तक झुकाकर प्रणाम करके कुरुवंशी धृतराष्ट्रसे बोले--“कुरुश्रेष्ठी अब मैं आपसे जानेकी आज्ञा चाहता हूँ। अब आप अपने मनको शोकमग्न न कीजिये। द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामाके मनमें पापपूर्ण संकल्प उदित हुआ है। इसीलिये मैं सहसा उठ गया हूँ। उसने रातको सोते समय पाण्डवोंके वधका विचार किया है”
vaiśampāyana uvāca | drauṇeḥ pāpo 'sty abhiprāyas tenāsmi sahasotthitaḥ | pāṇḍavānāṁ vadhe rātrau buddhis tena pradarśitā, rājendra! tad-anantaram ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “In the mind of Droṇa’s son a sinful intention has arisen; therefore I have risen at once. In the night he has fixed his resolve upon the slaughter of the Pāṇḍavas, O best of kings.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A premeditated plan to kill—especially a nocturnal, stealthy slaughter—is explicitly framed as pāpa (morally wrong). The verse highlights ethical vigilance: when adharma takes the form of deliberate intent, it demands immediate response rather than passive grief.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) has formed a wicked resolve to kill the Pāṇḍavas at night. This revelation explains why the speaker rises suddenly and signals urgency to the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra).