Shloka 35
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
“आज रातमें मैं शीघ्र ही पांचालराज धृष्टद्युम्मके सिरको पशुके मस्तककी भाँति बलपूर्वक मरोड़ डालूँगा ।। अद्य पाज्चालपाण्डूनां शयितानात्मजान् निशि | खड्गेन निशितेनाजौ प्रमथिष्यामि गौतम,“गौतम! आज रातके युद्धमें सोये हुए पांचालों और पाण्डवोंके पुत्रोंको भी मैं अपनी तीखी तलवारसे टूक-टूक कर दूँगा
adya rātrāṃ mayā śīghraṃ pāñcālarāja-dhṛṣṭadyumnasya śiraḥ paśu-mastakasya bhānti balapūrvakaṃ maroḍayiṣyate | adya pāñcāla-pāṇḍūnāṃ śayitān ātmajān niśi khaḍgena niśitenājau pramathiṣyāmi, gautama |
ଗୌତମ! ଆଜି ରାତିର ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଶୋଇଥିବା ପାଞ୍ଚାଳ ଓ ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ମୋ ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ଖଡ୍ଗରେ ଖଣ୍ଡଖଣ୍ଡ କରିଦେବି।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how vengeance can drive warriors to abandon dharma: killing sleeping, unarmed targets is portrayed as a grave ethical transgression, marking a shift from righteous battle to adharma.
Sañjaya reports a vow to kill Dhṛṣṭadyumna and to slaughter the sleeping sons of the Pāñcālas and Pāṇḍavas during the night—foreshadowing the infamous nocturnal attack central to the Sauptika Parva.