Shloka 18
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Bereavement and the Averted Assault on Bhīma (Āyasī Pratimā Episode)
इत्येवमुक्त्वा राजानं कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम् कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च द्रोणपुत्रश्च भारत,भारत! राजासे ऐसा कहकर उनकी प्रदक्षिणा करके कृपाचार्य, कृतवर्मा और अश्वृत्थामाने मनीषी राजा धृतराष्ट्रकी ओर देखते हुए तुरंत ही गंगातटकी ओर अपने घोड़े हॉँक दिये
ity evam uktvā rājānaṃ kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam | kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca droṇaputraś ca bhārata ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Setelah berkata demikian kepada raja dan mengelilinginya dengan penuh hormat, Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, dan putera Droṇa (Aśvatthāman)—wahai Bhārata—segera memacu kuda mereka menuju tebing Sungai Gaṅgā, sambil memandang ke arah raja bijaksana Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in times of moral collapse and violent aftermath, traditional acts of respect (like abhipradakṣiṇā) remain markers of social and ethical order; the verse highlights the tension between outward propriety and the ominous trajectory of subsequent deeds.
After addressing the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and performing a respectful circumambulation, Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, and Aśvatthāman immediately depart, driving their horses toward the Gaṅgā’s bank, indicating swift movement toward the next stage of events.