Shloka 6
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
संजयने कहा--राजन्! महामनस्वी द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा जब शिविरके भीतर जाने लगा, उस समय कृपाचार्य और कृतवर्मा भी उसके दरवाजेपर जा खड़े हुए ।।
sañjaya uvāca—rājan mahāmanasvī droṇaputra aśvatthāmā yadā śibirasyāntar praviṣṭum ārabdhavān, tadā kṛpācāryaś ca kṛtavarmā ca tasya dvāre tiṣṭhantau babhūvatuḥ. aśvatthāmā tu tau dṛṣṭvā yatnavantau mahārathau, prahṛṣaḥ śanakai rājan idaṃ vacanam abravīt.
サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ。大いなる心をもつドローナの子アシュヴァッターマが陣営の内へ入ろうとしたその時、クリパとクリタヴァルマンもまた来て、その入口に立った。同行しようと努める二人の大車戦士を見て、アシュヴァッターマは大いに喜び、低い声でこのように語った—」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how companionship and approval can strengthen resolve at a critical moment; ethically, it foreshadows that collective participation in a questionable act spreads responsibility beyond the principal agent, making counsel and restraint especially important in wartime decisions.
Aśvatthāmā is about to enter the enemy camp; Kṛpa and Kṛtavarmā position themselves at the entrance, ready to accompany him. Seeing their readiness, Aśvatthāmā becomes pleased and begins to speak to them quietly.