Shloka 156
रजसा ध्वस्तमासीन ददर्श द्रौणिमन्तिके । वहाँ जाकर उन्होंने गंगाजीके जलके किनारे परम यशस्वी महात्मा श्रीकृष्ण द्वैपायन व्यासको अनेकों महर्षियोंके साथ बैठे देखा। उनके पास ही वह क्रूरकर्मा द्रोणपुत्र भी बैठा दिखायी दिया। उसने अपने शरीरमें घी लगाकर कुशका चीर पहन रखा था। उसके सारे अंगोंपर धूल छा रही थी
rajasā dhvastam āsīnaṃ dadarśa drauṇim antike |
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ele viu o filho de Droṇa (Aśvatthāmā) sentado ali perto, com o corpo embotado e coberto de poeira. No quadro mais amplo, a narrativa o coloca junto ao sapiente supremamente afamado Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, sentado à margem do Gaṅgā com muitos grandes rishis—realçando o contraste ético entre a autoridade ascética portadora da verdade e a presença de um homem marcado por atos cruéis e pelas consequências morais da guerra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores moral consequence: the dust-covered, diminished state of Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman) functions as a narrative sign of inner turmoil and ethical stain after violent, cruel action, set against the purifying presence of Vyāsa and the ṛṣis—figures of dharma and truth.
The narrator reports that Aśvatthāman is seen sitting nearby, covered with dust. The surrounding context places him close to Vyāsa seated by the Gaṅgā with many sages, framing a tense encounter between a war-criminal figure and the highest spiritual authorities.