Shloka 34
कृपोपदेशः — द्रौणेरनिद्रा च
Kṛpa’s Counsel and Drauṇi’s Sleepless Resolve
पाण्डवानां च विजयो हृदयं दहतीव मे । “इसी प्रकार मैंने जो अपनी बुद्धिमें शत्रुओंके संहारका यह दृढ़ निश्चय कर लिया है, यही मुझे अच्छा प्रतीत होता है। जब संदेशवाहक दूत मेरे मित्रोंकी पराजय और पाण्डवोंकी विजयका समाचार कहने लगते हैं, तब वह मेरे हृदयको दग्ध-सा कर देता है ।। अहं तु कदन कृत्वा शत्रूणामद्य सौप्तिके । ततो विश्रमिता चैव स्वप्ता च विगतज्वर:
pāṇḍavānāṃ ca vijayo hṛdayaṃ dahatīva me | ahaṃ tu kadanaṃ kṛtvā śatrūṇām adya sauptike | tato viśramitā caiva svaptā ca vigatajvaraḥ ||
Kṛpa said: “The victory of the Pāṇḍavas burns my heart as if it were on fire. Therefore, tonight, in this nocturnal assault, I shall carry out the slaughter of the enemies. After that, I will rest—and sleep—free from the fever of anguish.”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse exposes how grief and humiliation after defeat can harden into vengeful resolve, pushing one toward ethically suspect violence (a night attack on sleepers). It highlights the inner ‘burning’ (jvara) of resentment and the dangerous idea that wrongdoing will bring psychological relief.
Kṛpa reacts to news of the Pāṇḍavas’ victory with intense anguish and declares his intention to participate in the Sauptika night assault—killing enemies while they sleep—believing that after this act he will finally be able to rest and sleep without torment.