Shloka 9
Aśvatthāmā’s Lamentation, Vow of Retaliation, and the Manifestation of the Nārāyaṇāstra (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६६)
चतुरजड्भस्य सैन्यस्य सम्पातश्न॒ महानभूत् | इसी प्रकार रथी श्रेष्ठ रथियोंके साथ प्रसन्नतापूर्वक युद्ध करने लगे। उस भयंकर प्रदोषकालमें आपके पुत्रकी आज्ञासे वहाँ चतुरंगिणी सेनामें भारी मारकाट मच गयी ।। ततोडर्जुनो महाराज कौरवाणामनीकिनीम्
sañjaya uvāca | catur-aṅgasya sainyasya sampātaḥ mahān abhūt | tathā rathī-śreṣṭhā rathibhiḥ saha prasannatayā yuddhaṃ cakruḥ | tasmin bhīṣaṇe pradoṣa-kāle tava putrasya ājñayā tatra catur-aṅgiṇyāṃ senāyāṃ bhārī mārakāṭaḥ samajāyata || tato 'rjuno mahārāja kauravāṇām anīkinīm ... ||
Sañjaya said: A tremendous clash arose in that fourfold army. In the same way, the foremost chariot-warriors engaged the other chariot-warriors with fierce resolve. In that dreadful twilight, at your son’s command, a great slaughter broke out there within the four-limbed host. Then, O King, Arjuna advanced against the Kauravas’ battle-array...
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a leader’s command can intensify collective violence: Duryodhana’s order precipitates widespread slaughter. Ethically, it underscores responsibility in warfare—decisions at the top shape the scale of harm, even when warriors act within kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that at dusk a massive clash erupts in the fourfold armies; chariot-warriors engage one another, and under Duryodhana’s command heavy killing spreads. The narration then turns to Arjuna moving against the Kaurava battle-array.