Shloka 146
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
अश्वत्थाममयं लोकं॑ मंस्यते सह सोमकै: । “आज सोमकोंसहित धर्मपुत्र राजा युधिष्छिर मेरा पराक्रम देखकर सम्पूर्ण जगत्को अश्वत्थामासे भरा हुआ मानेंगे
aśvatthāmamayaṃ lokaṃ maṃsyate saha somakaiḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: “Pada hari ini, bersama kaum Somaka, Raja Yudhiṣṭhira—putera Dharma—setelah menyaksikan keperkasaanku, akan menyangka seluruh dunia dipenuhi oleh Aśvatthāmā.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial prowess can shape perception and morale in war: a warrior’s display of power can make opponents feel as though a single force pervades the battlefield. Ethically, it also hints at the danger of pride and intimidation as drivers of action in a dharma-conflicted war.
Sañjaya reports a confident declaration about Aśvatthāmā’s impact: by demonstrating extraordinary valor, he expects Yudhiṣṭhira and the Somakas to believe that the entire world (or battlefield) is ‘filled with Aśvatthāmā,’ i.e., overwhelmed by his presence and might.