Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 73
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
द्रौणे: पापो5स्त्यभिप्रायस्तेनास्मि सहसोत्थित: । पाण्डवानां वधे रात्रौ बुद्धिस्तेन प्रदर्शिता
vaiśampāyana uvāca | drauṇeḥ pāpo 'sty abhiprāyas tenāsmi sahasotthitaḥ | pāṇḍavānāṁ vadhe rātrau buddhis tena pradarśitā, rājendra! tad-anantaram ||
द्रोणपुत्राच्या मनात पापी अभिप्राय आहे; म्हणूनच मी सहसा उठलो. रात्री पांडवांचा वध करण्याचा निश्चय त्याने केला आहे, हे राजेंद्र।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A premeditated plan to kill—especially a nocturnal, stealthy slaughter—is explicitly framed as pāpa (morally wrong). The verse highlights ethical vigilance: when adharma takes the form of deliberate intent, it demands immediate response rather than passive grief.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) has formed a wicked resolve to kill the Pāṇḍavas at night. This revelation explains why the speaker rises suddenly and signals urgency to the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra).