Shloka 35
भीमसेन-धृष्टद्युम्नयोर्वाक्यं
Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Speeches on Kṣātra-Dharma
प्रतिलभ्य तत: संज्ञामश्वत्थामा महाबल: । धनु: प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शन:,तदनन्तर सचेत हो महाबली शत्रुसूदन अश्वत्थामाने बायें हाथसे धनुषको दबाकर कानतक खींचे हुए धनुषसे घटोत्कचको लक्ष्य करके यमदण्डके समान एक भयंकर एवं उत्तम बाण शीघ्र छोड़ दिया
pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñām aśvatthāmā mahābalaḥ | dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ ||
प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञामश्वत्थामा महाबलः । धनुः प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शनः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless pull of battlefield duty and hostility: even after losing consciousness, a warrior returns to combat. Ethically, it points to how war can harden resolve and narrow attention to victory and enmity, raising questions about dharma when action is driven primarily by wrath and obligation.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā regains consciousness and firmly grips/presses his bow with his left hand, preparing to continue fighting as a formidable enemy-crusher.