Shloka 136
Sauptika-parva Adhyāya 13 — Bhīmasena’s Pursuit of Drauṇi and the Release of a Divine Astra
यत्र सम श्रूयते द्रौणि: पुत्रहन्ता महात्मनाम् उन सुदृढ़ धनुर्धर तेजस्वी वीरोंके देखते-देखते वे अत्यन्त वेगशाली घोड़ोंके द्वारा भागीरथीके तटपर जा पहुँचे, जहाँ उन महात्मा पाण्डवोंके पुत्रोंका वध करनेवाला अश्वत्थामा बैठा सुना गया था
yatra sam aśrūyata drauṇiḥ putrahantā mahātmanām | tatra sudṛḍhadhanurdharāḥ tejasvino vīrāḥ paśyatāṃ paśyatāṃ ativegair aśvaiḥ bhāgīrathītīraṃ jagmuḥ, yatra aśvatthāmā upaviṣṭa iti śrutaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Mereka mendengar bahawa Drauṇi—Aśvatthāmā, pembunuh putera-putera para Pāṇḍava yang berhati agung—berada di sana. Di hadapan mata para pahlawan yang bersinar gagah, teguh dalam kepandaian memanah, dia memecut pergi dengan kuda-kuda yang amat pantas lalu sampai ke tebing Bhāgīrathī, tempat dikhabarkan Aśvatthāmā telah duduk menetap.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a grave ethical rupture in warfare: the killing of the sons of the Pāṇḍavas is marked as a shocking act that provokes immediate pursuit. It frames such violence as a transgression that cannot be treated as ordinary battle, emphasizing accountability and the moral weight of harming the defenseless.
News spreads that Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi), responsible for killing the Pāṇḍavas’ sons, is at a particular place. He flees at great speed on swift horses and reaches the bank of the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā), where he is said to be seated, as the pursuing warriors watch.