Shloka 89

वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च

The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel

Devanagari script

तमयस्मयवर्माणं दौणिर्भीमात्मजात्मजम्‌

Transliteration

tam ayasmaya-varmāṇaṃ droṇir bhīmātmajātmajam

Translation

तमयस्मयवर्माणं द्रौणिर्भीमात्मजात्मजम्।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अयस्मय-वर्माणम्: armoured with iron (having an iron cuirass)
• अयस्मय-वर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयस्मयवर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रौणिः: Drauni (Ashvatthaman, son of Drona)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमात्मज-आत्मजम्: the son of Bhima's son (grandson of Bhima)
• भीमात्मज-आत्मजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमात्मजात्मज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

सयजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
• Bhīma
• Bhīma’s grandson
• iron armor (ayasmaya varman)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how warfare, when driven by vengeance and unchecked rage, can collapse ethical boundaries—leading to the killing of even the young or protected, and thereby intensifying the moral cost of victory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā killed Bhīma’s grandson, described as wearing iron armor, indicating both the victim’s preparedness/protection and the attacker’s lethal resolve.