Shloka 31
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
तमनतकमिव क्रुद्धमन्तकस्यान्तकोपमम् । ये ये ददृशिरे तत्र विसंज्ञा: प्रायशो5भवन्,यमराजके समान क्रोधमें भरा हुआ अश्वत्थामा उस समय कालका भी काल-सा जान पड़ता था। जिन-जिन लोगोंने वहाँ उसे देखा, वे प्रायः बेहोश हो गये
tam antakam iva kruddham antakasyāntakopamam | ye ye dadṛśire tatra visaṃjñāḥ prāyaśo 'bhavan ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Aśvatthāmā, menyala oleh amarah, tampak di sana bagaikan Maut itu sendiri—bahkan seperti pembunuh Maut. Hampir semua yang memandangnya di medan itu menjadi tidak sedarkan diri, dilanda ngeri oleh daya pemusnah yang seolah-olah menjelma dalam kemarahannya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how uncontrolled anger can make a warrior appear as an embodiment of death, spreading panic and moral darkness around him. It implicitly warns that wrath, when ungoverned by dharma and restraint, becomes a destructive force that overwhelms both enemies and onlookers.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāmā on the battlefield in a state of intense rage. His presence is so terrifying—likened to Death itself—that most who see him lose consciousness, indicating the extreme dread and chaos his fury generates.