Shloka 40
Book 10, Adhyāya 12: Aśvatthāmā’s Request for the Cakra and the Brahmaśiras Context
एतावदुक््त्वा द्रौणिर्मा युग्यानश्वान् धनानि च । आदायोपययोौ काले रत्नानि विविधानि च
etāvad uktvā drauṇir mā yugyān aśvān dhanāni ca | ādāyopayayau kāle ratnāni vividhāni ca ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Après n’avoir dit que cela, Drauṇi, Aśvatthāman, s’en alla au moment opportun, emportant des chevaux propres à être attelés au char, des richesses et des joyaux de toutes sortes.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the wake of catastrophic violence, actions quickly shift to securing resources—horses, wealth, and jewels—revealing the moral tension between dharma and the opportunistic impulses that war can unleash.
After speaking briefly, Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) leaves at the appropriate time, taking chariot-worthy horses along with money/wealth and assorted jewels.