Shloka 59
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
श्रुतकर्मा तु परिघं गृहीत्वा समताडयत् । अभिद्रुत्य ययौ द्रौर्णिं सव्ये सफलके भृशम्,अब श्रुतकर्मा परिघ लेकर अश्वत्थामाकी ओर दौड़ा। उसने उसके ढालयुक्त बायें हाथमें भारी चोट पहुँचायी
Śrutakarmā tu parighaṃ gṛhītvā samatāḍayat | abhidhṛtya yayau drauṇiṃ savye saphalake bhṛśam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—श्रुतकर्मा तु परिघं गृहीत्वा समताडयत्। अभिद्रुत्य द्रौणिं सव्ये सफलके भृशं जघान।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the Sauptika context of night violence and retaliation, martial prowess can become sheer destructive impulse; it implicitly contrasts disciplined dharma-yuddha ideals with the escalating brutality that follows when ethical boundaries in war collapse.
Sañjaya narrates that Śrutakarmā charges at Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi) and strikes him hard with a parigha, landing the blow on Aśvatthāman’s left arm that holds a shield.