Shloka 8
कृपोपदेशः — द्रौणेरनिद्रा च
Kṛpa’s Counsel and Drauṇi’s Sleepless Resolve
कृपेण सहित यान्त॑ गुप्तं च कृतवर्मणा । को द्रौणिं युधि संरब्धं योधयेदपि देवराट्,जब कृतवमसि सुरक्षित हो द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा मुझ कृपाचार्यके साथ कुपित होकर युद्धके लिये प्रस्थान करेगा, उस समय कौन वीर, वह देवराज इन्द्र ही क्यों न हो, उसका सामना कर सकता है?
kṛpeṇa sahitaḥ yāntaṃ guptaṃ ca kṛtavarmaṇā | ko drauṇiṃ yudhi saṃrabdhaṃ yodhayet api devarāṭ ||
Kripa said: “When Drona’s son (Aśvatthāmā), guarded by Kṛtavarman and accompanied by me, advances to battle in wrath, who could possibly fight him on the field—even if that warrior were Indra himself, lord of the gods?”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wrath and martial confidence, reinforced by loyal allies and protection, can create a sense of invincibility; ethically, it foreshadows how such unchecked fury in war tends to overwhelm restraint and leads toward grievous acts.
Kṛpa is emphasizing Aśvatthāmā’s terrifying battle-readiness: with Kṛpa accompanying him and Kṛtavarman guarding him, Aśvatthāmā is portrayed as so formidable in his rage that no opponent—‘even Indra’—could face him.