Mahabharata 7.161.3 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 161, Shloka 3
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
जैसे सिंह मतवाले हाथीपर झपटता है, उसी प्रकार अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरे हुए द्रोणकुमार अश्व॒ृत्थामाने कुरुराज दुर्योधनके देखते-देखते कर्णपर आक्रमण किया ।।
sañjaya uvāca | yathā siṃho matavāle hastini jhaṭpaty evaṃ krodhasaṃpūrṇo droṇaputro ’śvatthāmā kururājaṃ duryodhanaṃ paśyata eva karṇam abhyadravat || aśvatthāmovāca | yad arjunaguṇāṃs tathyān kīrtayānaṃ narādhama | śūraṃ dveṣāt sudurduddhe tvaṃ bhartsayasi mātulam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Seperti singa menerkam gajah yang mengamuk, demikianlah Aśvatthāmā, putera Droṇa, yang dipenuhi amarah menyala, meluru menyerang Karṇa di hadapan mata raja Kuru, Duryodhana. Aśvatthāmā berkata: “Wahai manusia hina, wahai si bodoh berakal buruk! Mengapa engkau, kerana kebencian semata-mata, mencela bapa saudara sebelah ibuku—seorang wira sejati dan pemanah terunggul—sedangkan dia hanya menyebutkan kebajikan Arjuna yang sebenar? Apakah yang mendorongmu, dalam keangkuhan, bermegah tentang keberanianmu sendiri dan memarahi dia seolah-olah tiada seorang pun dalam perang ini layak dihormati?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical danger of envy-driven speech: hatred and pride can make one insult even a worthy person who speaks truthfully. It also shows how uncontrolled anger escalates conflict, turning rivalry into reckless violence.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāmā, enraged, charging at Karṇa in Duryodhana’s presence. Aśvatthāmā then confronts Duryodhana, questioning why he scolds Aśvatthāmā’s maternal uncle for truthfully praising Arjuna’s real merits.
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