Shloka 35
प्रतिलभ्य तत: संज्ञामश्वत्थामा महाबल: । धनु: प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शन:,तदनन्तर सचेत हो महाबली शत्रुसूदन अश्वत्थामाने बायें हाथसे धनुषको दबाकर कानतक खींचे हुए धनुषसे घटोत्कचको लक्ष्य करके यमदण्डके समान एक भयंकर एवं उत्तम बाण शीघ्र छोड़ दिया
pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñām aśvatthāmā mahābalaḥ | dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Regaining consciousness, the mighty Aśvatthāmā—crusher of foes—pressed his bow with his left hand, steadying himself to resume the violent duty of battle. The verse underscores the grim momentum of war: even after a fall into unconsciousness, a warrior returns to action, driven by allegiance and enmity rather than by compassion.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless pull of battlefield duty and hostility: even after losing consciousness, a warrior returns to combat. Ethically, it points to how war can harden resolve and narrow attention to victory and enmity, raising questions about dharma when action is driven primarily by wrath and obligation.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā regains consciousness and firmly grips/presses his bow with his left hand, preparing to continue fighting as a formidable enemy-crusher.