Shloka 90
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
Devanagari script
अथ दृष्ट्वा हत॑ पुत्रमश्चत्थाम्ना महाबलम्
Transliteration
atha dṛṣṭvā hataṁ putram aśvatthāmnā mahābalam
Translation
अथ दृष्ट्वा हतं पुत्रमश्वत्थाम्ना महाबलम्।
Word by Word
अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage-neutral), having seen
हतम्slain
हतम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootहन्
Formmasculine, accusative, singular, क्त (past passive participle)
पुत्रम्son
पुत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
अश्वत्थाम्नाby Ashvatthaman
अश्वत्थाम्ना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअश्वत्थामन्
Formmasculine, instrumental, singular
महाबलम्mighty/very strong
महाबलम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबल
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
Speaker
सयजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaA
AśvatthāmāP
putra (the slain son; unnamed in this pāda)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The line highlights how the shock of a loved one’s death in war becomes a catalyst for escalation. It implicitly warns that grief, when fused with retaliation, can push actions beyond dharma and deepen collective suffering.
Sañjaya narrates a turning point: someone witnesses his son lying slain, and the killer is identified as the powerful Aśvatthāmā. This observation sets up the next reactions—lament, anger, and likely further violent response.