Shloka 136
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
युगान्ते सर्वभूतानि दग्ध्वेव वसुरुल्बण: । रराज जयतां श्रेष्ठो द्रोणपुत्रस्तवाहितान्,राजन! विजयी वीरोंमे श्रेष्ठ द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा प्रलयकालमें समस्त प्राणियोंको भस्म कर देनेवाले संवर्तक अग्निके समान आपके शत्रुओंको दग्ध करके देदीप्यमान हो उठा
sañjaya uvāca |
yugānte sarvabhūtāni dagdhveva vasur-ulbaṇaḥ |
rarāja jayatāṃ śreṣṭho droṇaputras tavāhitān, rājan |
vijayī vīro me śreṣṭha droṇaputra aśvatthāmā pralaya-kāle samasta prāṇiyoṃ ko bhasma kara dene-vāle saṃvartaka agni ke samān āpake śatrūoṃ ko dagdha karke dīpyamāna ho uṭhā ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, bagaikan api pralaya pada akhir zaman yang melalap habis segala makhluk, putra Droṇa—yang utama di antara para pemenang—bersinar gemilang setelah membakar hangus musuh-musuhmu. Aśvatthāmā, sang kesatria unggul, menyala laksana api Saṃvartaka yang meluluhlantakkan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses pralaya (cosmic dissolution) imagery to show how unchecked martial fury can resemble world-ending destruction. It implicitly warns that victory in war, when driven by wrath and vengeance, may radiate power yet carry an ethically ominous, annihilating character.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Aśvatthāmā, Droṇa’s son, has become resplendent after burning down the king’s enemies in battle, likening his destructive prowess to the Saṃvartaka fire that consumes beings at the end of an age.