Shloka 33
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
तत आसाद्य तरसा दारुणं गौतमीसुतम् । बबन्धामर्षताम्राक्ष: पशुं रशनया यथा ॥ ३३ ॥
tata āsādya tarasā dāruṇaṁ gautamī-sutam babandhāmarṣa-tāmrākṣaḥ paśuṁ raśanayā yathā
แล้วอรชุนก็พุ่งเข้าจับบุตรแห่งโคตมีผู้โหดร้ายอย่างฉับไว ดวงตาแดงดุจทองแดงด้วยโทสะ เขามัดผู้นั้นด้วยเชือกประหนึ่งสัตว์เดียรัจฉาน
Aśvatthāmā’s mother, Kṛpī, was born in the family of Gautama. The significant point in this śloka is that Aśvatthāmā was caught and bound up with ropes like an animal. According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, Arjuna was obliged to catch this son of a brāhmaṇa like an animal as a part of his duty ( dharma ). This suggestion by Śrīdhara Svāmī is also confirmed in the later statement of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Aśvatthāmā was a bona fide son of Droṇācārya and Kṛpī, but because he had degraded himself to a lower status of life, it was proper to treat him as an animal and not as a brāhmaṇa.
FAQs
Because Aśvatthāmā had committed a cruel act and was being apprehended for punishment; the verse stresses the severity of his wrongdoing and Arjuna’s swift restraint of him.
‘Gautamī-suta’ refers to Aśvatthāmā, the son of Gautamī (Kṛpī), highlighting his identity through his mother.
Serious harm done to others must be stopped decisively; restraint and accountability are part of dharma, even while later decisions should be guided by higher moral and spiritual principles.