Shloka 43
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
उवाच चासहन्त्यस्य बन्धनानयनं सती । मुच्यतां मुच्यतामेष ब्राह्मणो नितरां गुरु: ॥ ४३ ॥
uvāca cāsahanty asya bandhanānayanaṁ satī mucyatāṁ mucyatām eṣa brāhmaṇo nitarāṁ guruḥ
Dia tidak dapat menahan melihat Aśvatthāmā diikat dengan tali, dan sebagai wanita yang solehah, dia berkata: Lepaskan dia, lepaskan dia, kerana dia adalah seorang brāhmaṇa, guru kita.
As soon as Aśvatthāmā was brought before Draupadī, she thought it intolerable that a brāhmaṇa should be arrested like a culprit and brought before her in that condition, especially when the brāhmaṇa happened to be a teacher’s son.
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛpī urges that Aśvatthāmā be released because he is a brāhmaṇa and connected to their guru, highlighting the dharmic principle of restraint and respect toward brāhmaṇas and teachers even amid conflict.
Seeing her son Aśvatthāmā bound and dragged in captivity, Kṛpī—known here as satī (chaste and principled)—could not bear it and appealed on the grounds of brāhmaṇa status and guru relationship (son of Droṇācārya).
It teaches self-control and principled compassion: even when wronged, consider dharma, avoid humiliation of others, and uphold respect for teachers and sacred responsibilities while seeking justice.