Shloka 37

Aśvatthāmā’s Stuti of Rudra and Śiva’s Empowerment (सौप्तिकपर्व, अध्याय ७)

Devanagari script

हन्तारो द्विषतां शूरा: प्रसहाासहुविक्रमा: । पातारो5सृग्वसौधानां मांसान्त्रकृतभोजना:,वे शूरवीर पार्षद हठपूर्वक शत्रुओंका वध करनेमें समर्थ थे। उनका पराक्रम असहा था। वे रक्त और वसा पीते तथा आँत और मांस खाते थे

Transliteration

hantāro dviṣatāṁ śūrāḥ prasahāsahuvikramāḥ | pātāro 'sṛgvasaudhānāṁ māṁsāntrakṛtabhojanāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “They were heroic slayers of their foes, men of violent and irresistible prowess. They drank the blood and fat of the fallen, and made their food of flesh and entrails.”

Word by Word

हन्तारःkillers, slayers

द्विषताम्of enemies

शूराःheroes, valiant

प्रसहाःviolent, forceful

असह-विक्रमाःwhose prowess is unbearable/irresistible

पातारःdrinkers

असृक्-वसौधानाम्of blood-and-fat (stores/heaps)

मांस-अन्त्र-कृत-भोजनाःwhose food is made of flesh and entrails

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ethical collapse that accompanies unchecked rage in war: when combatants become driven by cruelty and appetite, they resemble demonic forces rather than dharmic warriors, highlighting the Mahābhārata’s warning about adharma in vengeance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the terrifying nature of the attackers in the Sauptika episode, portraying them as ferocious, unstoppable killers who behave like blood-drinking, flesh-eating beings during the nocturnal slaughter.