Shloka 40
Book 10, Adhyāya 12: Aśvatthāmā’s Request for the Cakra and the Brahmaśiras Context
एतावदुक््त्वा द्रौणिर्मा युग्यानश्वान् धनानि च । आदायोपययोौ काले रत्नानि विविधानि च,“मुझसे इतना ही कहकर द्रोणकुमार अश्वत्थामा रथमें जोतने योग्य घोड़े, धन तथा नाना प्रकारके रत्न लेकर वहाँसे यथासमय लौट गया
etāvad uktvā drauṇir mā yugyān aśvān dhanāni ca | ādāyopayayau kāle ratnāni vividhāni ca ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having said only this much, Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman departed at the proper time, taking with him horses fit to be yoked to a chariot, along with wealth and various kinds of jewels. The verse underscores the grim pragmatism of war’s aftermath: even after grave deeds and harsh resolve, the narrative records the immediate movement of resources—mounts, money, and valuables—showing how violence and acquisition often travel together, and hinting at the ethical dissonance between righteous conduct and opportunistic gain in a devastated camp.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the wake of catastrophic violence, actions quickly shift to securing resources—horses, wealth, and jewels—revealing the moral tension between dharma and the opportunistic impulses that war can unleash.
After speaking briefly, Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) leaves at the appropriate time, taking chariot-worthy horses along with money/wealth and assorted jewels.