Shloka 17
कर्णपर्व — चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः
Arjuna’s Suppression of the Saṃśaptakas; Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Admonition; Battlefield Inventory
अथ तन्रैव संग्रामे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे । अपस॒व्य॑ ततश्नक्रे द्रौणिस्तत्र वृकोदरम्,इस प्रकार चलनेवाले उस भयंकर संग्राममें वहीं द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामाने भीमसेनको अपने दाहिने भागमें कर दिया
atha tanraiva saṅgrāme vartamāne sudāruṇe | apasavya tataś cakre drauṇis tatra vṛkodaram ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ketika pertempuran yang amat dahsyat itu masih berlangsung, Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā) berpusing menurut gerak apāsavya (ke kiri, pertanda tidak mujur), lalu mengatur sehingga Vṛkodara (Bhīma) berada di sebelah kanannya—menempatkan diri untuk pertembungan yang menentukan di tengah hiruk-pikuk perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within a dharmic war, actions are framed by codes of conduct and signs (auspicious/inauspicious). The verse highlights how warriors interpret direction and positioning not only tactically but also through an ethical-ritual lens, showing the Mahābhārata’s tension between martial necessity and moral symbolism.
As the fierce fighting continues, Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi) makes a maneuver described as apasavya (leftward/inauspicious) and arranges the encounter so that Bhīma (Vṛkodara) is on his right side—indicating a deliberate repositioning for combat.