Shloka 17
Sauptika-parva Adhyāya 13 — Bhīmasena’s Pursuit of Drauṇi and the Release of a Divine Astra
स दृष्टवा भीमधन्वानं प्रगृहीतशरासनम्,अश्वत्थामाने देखा कि भयंकर धनुर्थर भीमसेन हाथमें धनुष लिये आ रहे हैं। उनके पीछे श्रीकृष्णके रथपर बैठे हुए दो भाई और हैं। यह सब देखकर द्रोणकुमारके हृदयमें बड़ी व्यथा हुई। उस घबराहटमें उसने यही करना उचित समझा
sa dṛṣṭvā bhīmadhanvānaṃ pragṛhītaśarāsanam | aśvatthāmānaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca bhayaṅkara-dhanurdharam bhīmasenaṃ hastena dhanuḥ gṛhītvā āyāntam | tasya pṛṣṭhataḥ śrīkṛṣṇasya rathopaviṣṭau dvau bhrātarau ca | etad dṛṣṭvā droṇakumārasya hṛdaye mahān vyathā samajāyata | sa tasmin udvege tad eva kartum ucitaṃ mene ||
Melihat Bhīma—mengerikan di medan perang—mendekat dengan busur di tangan dan anak panah sedia, serta menyedari di belakangnya dua saudara duduk di atas rata Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Aśvatthāmā dikuasai dukacita yang mendalam. Dihimpit ketakutan dan tekanan yang mendadak itu, putera Droṇa menilai hanya satu jalan tindakan yang paling wajar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and agitation can drive a warrior toward a drastic choice; it implicitly raises an ethical question central to the Sauptika narrative—whether actions taken under panic and wounded pride can be called 'proper' (ucita) in the light of dharma.
Aśvatthāmā sees Bhīma advancing with weapons ready, with two Pāṇḍava brothers behind him on Kṛṣṇa’s chariot. Overwhelmed by distress, Aśvatthāmā decides upon what he believes is the appropriate next action, setting up the ensuing events of the Sauptika Parva.