Mahabharata 7.159.1 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 159, Shloka 1
अध्याय १५९ — रात्रौ श्रमविरामः
Night Exhaustion and Brief Pause in Battle
#-+3.2"22 हु हि की - भूमि नापनेका एक नाप जो चार सौ हाथका होता है। सप्तपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमोब् ध्याय: सोमदत्तकी ! मूच्छ
sañjaya uvāca | drupadasyātmajān dṛṣṭvā kuntibhojasutāṃs tathā | droṇaputreṇa nihatān rākṣasāṃś ca sahasraśaḥ | yudhiṣṭhiro bhīmaseno dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ | yuyudhānaś ca saṃyattā yuddhāyaiva mano dadhuḥ ||
సంజయుడు పలికెను—రాజా! ద్రోణపుత్రుడైన అశ్వత్థాముడు ద్రుపదుని కుమారులను, కుంతిభోజుని కుమారుని, అలాగే వేలాది రాక్షసులను సంహరించినట్లు చూసి యుధిష్ఠిరుడు, భీమసేనుడు, పార్షతుడైన ధృష్టద్యుమ్నుడు, యుయుధానుడు (సాత్యకి) అప్రమత్తులై యుద్ధంపైనే మనస్సు నిలిపిరి.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how witnessing extreme, indiscriminate killing can drive even dharma-minded leaders to concentrate on retaliation and survival. It implicitly warns that adharma in war tends to multiply conflict, forcing opponents into hardened resolve rather than reconciliation.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) has slain Drupada’s sons, the Kuntibhoja prince (identified with Yuyudhāna/Sātyaki in many recensions), and thousands of rākṣasa fighters. In response, Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Yuyudhāna ready themselves and fix their minds on continuing the battle.
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