Shloka 38
भीमसेन-धृष्टद्युम्नयोर्वाक्यं
Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Speeches on Kṣātra-Dharma
पृथ्वीपते! वह उत्तम एवं भयंकर बाण उस राक्षसकी छाती छेदकर पंखसहित पृथ्वीमें समा गया ।। सो5तिविद्धो महाराज रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् । राक्षसेन्द्र: सुबलवान् द्रौणिना रणशालिना,महाराज! युद्धमें शोभा पानेवाले अअश्रवत्थामाद्वारा अत्यन्त घायल हुआ महाबली राक्षसराज घटोत्कच रथके पिछले भागमें बैठ गया
sañjaya uvāca |
pṛthvīpate! sa uttama evaṁ bhayaṅkaraḥ bāṇaḥ tasya rākṣasasya vakṣaḥ bhittvā pakṣasahitaḥ pṛthivyāṁ samāviśat ||
so’tividdho mahārāja rathopastha upāviśat |
rākṣasendraḥ subalavān drauṇinā raṇaśālinā |
mahārāja! yuddhe śobhā-pānena aśvatthāmnā atyantaṁ ghāyitaḥ mahābalī rākṣasarājaḥ ghaṭotkacaḥ rathasya paścima-bhāge upāviśat ||
Sañjaya said: “O lord of the earth! That excellent yet dreadful arrow pierced the demon’s chest and, still bearing its feathers, sank into the ground. Severely wounded, O King, he sat down upon the chariot-seat. The mighty lord of the Rākṣasas—Ghaṭotkaca—struck down by Droṇa’s son, the battle-renowned Aśvatthāmā, and grievously hurt even as he sought glory in war, sat in the rear part of his chariot.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the harsh ethic of battlefield duty (kṣatriya-dharma): even mighty warriors seeking fame are subject to sudden injury and decline. It also highlights the epic’s sober view of glory—renown in war is inseparable from suffering and impermanence.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Aśvatthāmā’s fearsome arrow pierces Ghaṭotkaca’s chest and sinks into the earth. Badly wounded, Ghaṭotkaca sits down on the chariot-seat, retreating to the rear portion of his chariot.