Shloka 110
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
त्रिषु देशेषु ददतु: शिविरस्थ हुताशनम् । महाराज! कृपाचार्य तथा दुर्बुद्धि कृतवर्मा दोनों ही द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामाका अधिक-से- अधिक प्रिय करना चाहते थे; अतः उन्होंने उस शिविरमें तीन ओरसे आग लगा दी ।। १०९ न ! ततः प्रकाशे शिबिरे खड़्गेन पितृनन्दन:
triṣu deśeṣu dadatuḥ śivirasthe hutāśanam | mahārāja! kṛpācārya tathā durbuddhi kṛtavarmā dvau hi droṇaputram aśvatthāmānam adhika-se-adhikaṃ priyaṃ kartum icchantau; ataḥ tau tasmin śivire trito diśaḥ agniṃ prajvālayām āsa || 109 || tataḥ prakāśe śibire khaḍgena pitṛnandanāḥ ...
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai raja agung, demi paling menyenangkan putra Droṇa, Aśvatthāmā, sang guru Kṛpa dan Kṛtavarmā yang berakal sesat menyalakan api di perkemahan dari tiga penjuru. Setelah itu, di perkemahan yang terang oleh kobaran, putra yang membahagiakan ayahnya maju dengan pedang terhunus.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how loyalty and the desire to please a leader can slide into adharma when detached from restraint and righteous conduct—here, gratification of Aśvatthāmā becomes the motive for an indiscriminate act (burning the camp), illustrating ethical collapse in war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Kṛpa and Kṛtavarmā, intent on pleasing Aśvatthāmā, ignite the enemy camp from three sides; the ensuing blaze illuminates the camp as Aśvatthāmā proceeds with sword in hand (the action continues into the next verse).