Shloka 83
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
तथा भवदश्यां कार्य स्यादिति मे निश्चिता मति: । “मैं तो इस शिविरके भीतर घुस जाऊँगा और वहाँ कालके समान विचरूँगा। आपलोग ऐसा करें जिससे कोई भी मनुष्य आप दोनोंके हाथसे जीवित न बच सके
tathā bhavad-aśyāṁ kāryaṁ syād iti me niścitā matiḥ | tato rathaṁ punar drauṇir āsthito bhīma-niḥsvanam | dhanuṣ-pāṇiḥ śarair anyān praiṣayad vai yama-kṣayam ||
तथा भवदश्यां कार्यं स्यादिति मे निश्चिता मतिः। इति निश्चित्य द्रौणिः पुनरारुह्य रथं भीमनिःस्वनम्। धनुष्पाणिः शरैः क्रुद्धः प्रैषयद् यमसादनम्॥ “अहं शिविरमन्तः प्रविश्य काल इव विचरिष्यामि; युवां च तथा कुरुतं यथा कश्चिदपि नरः युवयोर्हस्तात् जीवन् न मुच्येत”— इति तस्य दृढो निश्चयः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a ‘firmly decided mind’ (niścitā matiḥ) can become ethically catastrophic when directed toward annihilation. It presents resolve and martial capability as morally ambiguous: determination without dharmic restraint turns action into mere ‘sending to Yama,’ i.e., death as an end in itself.
Sañjaya describes Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā) renewing his assault: he mounts his roaring chariot, takes up his bow, and shoots arrows that kill ‘others,’ metaphorically sending them to Yama’s realm. It is part of the Sauptika Parva’s night-time violence following the great war.