Shloka 30
संजय उवाच एवमुक्त्वा महाराज द्रोणपुत्र: प्रतापवान् । एकान्ते योजयित्वाश्वान् प्रायादभिमुख: परान्,संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! ऐसा कहकर प्रतापी द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा एकान्तमें घोड़ोंको जोतकर शत्रुओंकी ओर चल दिया
sañjaya uvāca evam uktvā mahārāja droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān | ekānte yojayitvā aśvān prāyād abhimukhaḥ parān ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, having spoken thus, the valiant son of Droṇa—Aśvatthāmā—harnessed his horses in a secluded place and then set out, facing toward the enemy. The narrative turns from speech to decisive action, marking his deliberate movement toward a violent end within the moral darkness of the night-raid.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intention becomes action: after resolving inwardly, Aśvatthāmā prepares in secrecy and moves toward the enemy. In the Sauptika context, this preparation foreshadows ethically fraught violence—showing how private resolve, when driven by wrath and vengeance, can lead to deeds condemned by dharma.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Aśvatthāmā, having finished speaking, goes aside, harnesses his horses away from public view, and departs toward the opposing camp—an immediate prelude to the events of the night attack.