Shloka 58

Devanagari script

अताडयच्छतानीकं मुक्तचक्रं द्विजस्तु सः । स विह्दलो ययौ भूमिं ततो5स्यापाहरच्छिर:,शतानीकने जब चक्र चला दिया, तब ब्राह्मण अश्वत्थामाने भी उसपर गहरा आघात किया। इससे व्याकुल होकर वह पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा। इतनेहीमें अश्वत्थामाने उसका सिर काट लिया

Transliteration

atāḍayac chatānīkaṃ muktacakraṃ dvijas tu saḥ | sa vidhvalo yayau bhūmiṃ tato ’syāpāharac chiraḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: When Śatānīka’s discus slipped from his grasp, the Brahmin Aśvatthāman struck him hard. Reeling from the blow, Śatānīka fell to the ground; and then Aśvatthāman cut off his head—an act that underscores the ruthless, night-bound violence of the Sauptika episode, where the restraints of kṣatriya warfare and ordinary ethical limits are repeatedly violated.

Word by Word

अताडयत्struck, beat

शतानीकम्Śatānīka (proper name)

मुक्तचक्रम्whose discus/weapon was released (or: with loosened wheel/discus)

द्विजःthe Brahmin (Aśvatthāman)

तुbut, indeed

सःhe

विह्वलःbewildered, distressed

ययौwent, fell (went down)

भूमिम्to the ground

ततःthen, thereafter

अस्यof him

अपाहरत्took away, removed

शिरःhead

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Aśvatthāman

Śatānīka

cakra (discus)

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 highlights how, in the Sauptika episode, violence escalates beyond accepted wartime restraint: a fallen, disarmed opponent is struck and beheaded. It serves as a narrative warning about adharma in war—how rage and vengeance can eclipse duty and humane limits.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Śatānīka loses control of his discus; Aśvatthāman, identified as a dvija (Brahmin), strikes him so that he collapses, and then Aśvatthāman cuts off his head.