Shloka 77
तदनन्तर अश्व॒त्थामाके उस सिंहनादसे पाण्डवोंके शिविरमें सैकड़ों और हजारों धनुर्धर वीर जाग उठे ।। सो<च्छिनत् कस्यचित् पादौ जघनं चैव कस्यचित् । कांश्चिद् बिभेद पाश्वेषु कालसृष्ट इवान्तक:,उस समय कालप्रेरित यमराजके समान उसने किसीके पैर काट लिये, किसीकी कमर टूक-टूक कर दी और किन्हींकी पसलियोंमें तलवार भोंककर उन्हें चीर डाला
so 'cchinat kasyacit pādau jaghanaṃ caiva kasyacit | kāṃścid bibheda pārśveṣu kālasṛṣṭa ivāntakaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Thereafter, Aśvatthāmā—like Death itself unleashed by Time—mutilated the sleeping warriors in the Pāṇḍava camp: he severed the feet of some, smashed the hips of others, and split yet others by thrusting his blade into their ribs. The scene underscores the moral collapse of nocturnal slaughter, where valor gives way to ruthless extermination and the war’s end is stained by adharma-driven violence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war can culminate in adharma when vengeance overrides restraint: the imagery of Aśvatthāmā as 'Time-sent Death' stresses the dehumanizing force of fate and rage, and serves as an ethical warning against cruelty—especially violence against the unprepared or sleeping.
After entering the Pāṇḍava camp at night, Aśvatthāmā attacks the warriors who have awakened in alarm; he maims and kills indiscriminately—severing feet, crushing hips, and piercing ribs—described as if he were Death personified.