Shloka 31
तमब्रूतां महात्मानौ भोजशारद्वतावुभौ । किमर्थ स्यन्दनो युक्त: किज्च कार्य चिकीर्षितम्,उस समय भोजवंशी कृतवर्मा और शरद्वानके पुत्र कृपाचार्य दोनों महामनस्वी वीरोंने उससे कहा--'अश्व॒त्थामन्! तुमने किसलिये रथको जोता है? तुम इस समय कौन-सा कार्य करना चाहते हो?
tam abrūtāṃ mahātmānau bhojaśāradvatāv ubhau | kimarthaṃ syandano yuktaḥ kiñ ca kāryaṃ cikīrṣitam ||
Sañjaya said: Then those two high-souled warriors—Kṛtavarmā of the Bhoja line and Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat—addressed him: “Aśvatthāman, for what purpose have you harnessed the chariot? What deed do you intend to carry out now?” The question carries an ethical edge: before action is taken in the aftermath of war, they seek to know the aim and moral direction of his intent.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the moral weight of intention (cikīrṣitam): before a deed is undertaken—especially in a charged post-war setting—one’s purpose should be examined and made answerable to others. Ethical scrutiny begins with asking ‘why’ and ‘what action’ rather than rushing into execution.
Kṛtavarmā and Kṛpa approach Aśvatthāman and notice his chariot has been made ready. They question him directly about the reason for harnessing it and what action he plans to undertake at that moment.