Shloka 98
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! व्यासजीकी यह बात सुनकर द्रोणपुत्र महारथी अश्वत्थामाने मन-ही-मन भगवान् शंकरको प्रणाम किया और श्रीकृष्णकी भी महत्ता स्वीकार कर ली ।। हृष्टरोमा च वश्यात्मा सो5भिवाद्य महर्षये | वरूथिनीमभिप्रेक्ष्य हुवहारमकारयत्,उसके शरीरमें रोमांच हो आया। उसने विनीतभावसे महर्षिको प्रणाम किया और अपनी सेनाकी ओर देखकर उसे छावनीमें लौटनेकी आज्ञा दे दी
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! vyāsasya vacanaṃ śrutvā droṇaputraḥ mahārathī aśvatthāmā manasā bhagavantaṃ śaṅkaraṃ praṇamya śrīkṛṣṇasya api māhātmyaṃ pratijagrāha. hṛṣṭaromā ca vaśyātmā so ’bhivādya maharṣaye varūthinīm abhiprekṣya huṅkāram akārayat.
राजन् व्यासवचः श्रुत्वा द्रोणपुत्रो महारथः । मनसा प्रणनामाशु शंकरं च जनार्दनम् ॥ हृष्टरोमा च वश्यात्मा सोऽभिवाद्य महर्षये । वरूथिनीमभिप्रेक्ष्य हुवहारमकारयत् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the heat of war, true strength includes humility before higher wisdom: Ashvatthama’s inner bow to Śiva, his acceptance of Kṛṣṇa’s greatness, and his respectful salutation to Vyāsa culminate in a disciplined decision—signaling the troops to withdraw to camp—showing that reverence and self-control can restrain destructive impulse.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that after hearing Vyāsa, Ashvatthama is moved with awe (hair standing on end), pays respects to the sage, recognizes the divine stature of Śiva and Kṛṣṇa, and then issues an order—by a sounded signal—to have his forces return to the camp.