Shloka 108
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
ततः स तोयदो भूत्वा नील: सेन्द्रायुधो दिवि । अश्मवृष्टिभिरत्युग्रो दौणिमाच्छादयद् रणे,तत्पश्चात् वह आकाशमें इन्द्रधनुषसहित अत्यन्त भयंकर नील मेघ बनकर पत्थरोंकी वर्षसे रणभूमिमें अश्वत्थामाको आच्छादित करने लगा
tataḥ sa toyado bhūtvā nīlaḥ sendrāyudho divi | aśmavṛṣṭibhir atyugro dauṇim ācchādayad raṇe ||
Sañjaya berkata: Sesudah itu ia menjelma laksana awan sarat hujan—biru gelap di langit, berhias busur Indra (pelangi). Dengan hujan batu yang amat dahsyat, ia menutupi putra Droṇa, Aśvatthāmā, di medan laga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked martial rage can become as overwhelming and indiscriminate as a natural calamity. By likening the attacker to a storm-cloud with a terrifying stone-rain, it implicitly warns that power in war, when driven by wrath, can eclipse humane restraint and ethical clarity.
Sañjaya describes a combatant assuming the aspect of a dark rain-cloud in the sky, complete with a rainbow, and then unleashing a fierce barrage of stones that envelops Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son) on the battlefield.