Shloka 13
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Bereavement and the Averted Assault on Bhīma (Āyasī Pratimā Episode)
“'ट्रुपदके पुत्र धृष्टद्युम्न आदि सारे पांचाल मार डाले गये और द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्रोंको भी हमने मार गिराया ।। तथा विशसन कृत्वा पुत्रशत्रुगणस्य ते । प्राद्रवाम रणे स्थातुं न हि शक््यामहे त्रयः:,“इस प्रकार आपके पुत्रके शत्रुओंका रणभूमिमें संहार करके हम तीनों भागे जा रहे हैं। अब यहाँ ठहर नहीं सकते इति श्रीमहाभारते स्त्रीपर्वणि जलप्रदानिकपर्वणि कृपद्रौणिभोजदर्शने एकादशो<ध्याय:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | “trupadake putra dhṛṣṭadyumna-ādayaḥ sarve pāñcālā māritāḥ, draupadyāḥ pañca putrāś ca asmābhir nipātitāḥ || tathā viśasanaṃ kṛtvā putra-śatrugaṇasya te | prādravāma raṇe sthātuṃ na hi śakyāmahe trayaḥ ||”
Vaiśampāyana said: “O son of Kṛpa, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and all the Pāñcālas have been slain, and we have also struck down Draupadī’s five sons. Having thus carried out the slaughter of your son’s enemies, we three are fleeing; we cannot remain standing here on the battlefield.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vengeance-driven violence quickly crosses moral boundaries: even after claiming victory through slaughter, the perpetrators cannot face the consequences and must flee. It underscores the Mahābhārata’s warning that adharma in war brings fear, instability, and inevitable reckoning.
In the aftermath of the night attack, the speakers report to Aśvatthāmā (addressed as ‘son of Kṛpa’) that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāñcālas, and Draupadī’s five sons have been killed. Having carried out this massacre against Duryodhana’s enemies, the three men declare they are fleeing and cannot remain on the battlefield.