Shloka 45
महाराज! अभिषेक हो जानेपर अभश्वत्थामाने नृपश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधनको हृदयसे लगाया और अपने सिंहनादसे सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको प्रतिध्वनित करते हुए वहाँसे प्रस्थान किया ।।
sañjaya uvāca | mahārāja! abhiṣeke ho jāne para aśvatthāmāne nṛpaśreṣṭha duryodhanaṃ hṛdayena āliṅgya, sva-siṃhanādena sampūrṇā diśaḥ pratidhvanitāḥ kṛtvā tataḥ prasthitaḥ || duryodhano 'pi rājendra śoṇitena pariplutaḥ | tāṃ niśāṃ pratipede 'tha sarvabhūta-bhayāvahām ||
सञ्जय उवाच—महाराज! अभिषेकसमाप्तेऽश्वत्थामा नृपश्रेष्ठं दुर्योधनं हृदयेनालिङ्ग्य, सिंहनादेन सर्वा दिशः प्रतिध्वनयन् तस्मात् स्थानात् प्रस्थितवान्। दुर्योधनोऽपि राजेन्द्र शोणितेन परिप्लुतः, सर्वभूतभयावहां तां निशाम् तत्रैवात्यवाहयत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral atmosphere of the war’s endgame: outward triumph (the lion-roar and departure) stands beside inner and cosmic dread (a night ‘fearful to all beings’). It suggests that violence and adharma do not yield peace; even the victors are left blood-soaked, haunted, and surrounded by fear.
After a consecration ceremony (abhiṣeka), Ashvatthama warmly embraces Duryodhana and leaves with a roaring proclamation. Duryodhana, grievously wounded and covered in blood, remains and spends the night there—described as a terrifying night that instills fear in all creatures.