Shloka 45
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
ये त्वजाग्रन्त कौरव्य तेडपि शब्देन मोहिता: । निरीक्ष्यमाणा अन्योन्यं दृष्टवा दृष्टवा प्रविव्यथु:,कुरुनन्दन! जो जाग रहे थे, वे भी उस कोलाहलसे किंकर्तव्यविमूढ हो गये थे। परस्पर देखे जाते हुए वे सभी सैनिक अश्वत्थामाको देख-देखकर व्यथित हो रहे थे
ye tv ajāgranta kauravya te 'pi śabdena mohitāḥ | nirīkṣyamāṇā anyonyaṁ dṛṣṭvā dṛṣṭvā pravivyathuḥ kurunandana ||
ಕೌರವನಂದನನೇ! ಎಚ್ಚರದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದವರೂ ಆ ಗದ್ದಲದಿಂದ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯವಿಮೂಢರಾದರು. ಪರಸ್ಪರ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾ, ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥಾಮನನ್ನು ಮರುಮರು ಕಂಡು ಅವರು ವ್ಯಥೆಯಿಂದ ನಡುಗಿದರು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how violence undertaken in darkness and confusion spreads moral and psychological collapse: even the vigilant lose discernment, and fear multiplies through mutual observation and rumor-like noise—an implicit critique of adharma-driven warfare.
During the night in the Sauptika episode, a sudden uproar arises; even the awake guards and soldiers become disoriented. They look at one another repeatedly, and on recognizing Aśvatthāmā’s presence, they tremble in distress.