Shloka 39
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
द्रणेपुत्रस्ततो राजन् प्रत्यगात् स महामना: । राजन! तत्पश्चात् धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरके हट जानेपर फिर महामना द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा दूसरी ओर चला गया ।।
drauneputras tato rājan pratyagāt sa mahāmanāḥ | rājan tatpaścāt dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ haṭ jānepar phir mahāmanā drauṇaputro ’śvatthāmā dūsarī or calā gayā || tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājan tyaktvā drauṇiṃ mahāhave | prayayau tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ yuktaḥ krūrāya karmaṇe ||
Alors, ô Roi, le fils de Droṇa, à l’âme élevée, se retira et s’éloigna d’un autre côté. Après cela, Yudhiṣṭhira—fils de Dharma—laissant Aśvatthāmā de côté dans cette grande bataille, s’avança de nouveau vers ton armée, résolu à accomplir un acte dur et funeste.
(युधिष्टिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of warfare: even Yudhiṣṭhira, famed for dharma, becomes 'intent upon a cruel deed' when battle conditions demand decisive action. It frames cruelty not as virtue but as a tragic necessity that the righteous still recognize as morally weighty.
Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son) withdraws from the immediate engagement. Yudhiṣṭhira then stops focusing on him and advances toward the Kaurava forces, preparing to undertake a severe action in the course of the great battle.