Shloka 336
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
दश्ने नीलविनाशाय मतिं मतिमतां वर: । तदनन्तर बुद्धिमानोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामाने इन्द्रके वज़्की भाँति भयंकर टंकार करनेवाले अपने विचित्र धनुषको खींचकर नीलको मार डालनेका विचार किया
daśne nīlavināśāya matiṁ matimatāṁ varaḥ | tadanantaraṁ buddhimānāṁ śreṣṭha aśvatthāmā indrasya vajravat bhayaṅkaraṁ ṭaṅkāraṁ kurvat svam vicitra-dhanuḥ ākarṣya nīlaṁ hantum iti matiṁ cakāra |
Sanjaya said: Then the best of the intelligent, Ashvatthama—foremost among the wise—resolved upon the destruction of Nila. Drawing his wondrous bow and making a terrifying twang like Indra’s thunderbolt, he formed the intent to strike Nila down. The verse underscores how, in the heat of war, deliberate intention and martial prowess can be directed toward lethal ends, raising the ethical tension between duty in battle and the will to annihilate an opponent.
संजय उवाच