Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
उवाच चासहन्त्यस्य बन्धनानयनं सती । मुच्यतां मुच्यतामेष ब्राह्मणो नितरां गुरु: ॥ ४३ ॥
uvāca cāsahanty asya bandhanānayanaṁ satī mucyatāṁ mucyatām eṣa brāhmaṇo nitarāṁ guruḥ
นางมิอาจทนเห็นอัศวัตถามาถูกมัดด้วยเชือกได้ ด้วยความเป็นสตรีผู้เคร่งครัดในธรรม นางจึงกล่าวว่า: ปล่อยเขาเถิด ปล่อยเขาเถิด เพราะเขาเป็นพราหมณ์ และเป็นคุรุของเรา
As soon as Aśvatthāmā was brought before Draupadī, she thought it intolerable that a brāhmaṇa should be arrested like a culprit and brought before her in that condition, especially when the brāhmaṇa happened to be a teacher’s son.
In this verse, Kṛpī urges that Aśvatthāmā be released because he is a brāhmaṇa and connected to their guru, highlighting the dharmic principle of restraint and respect toward brāhmaṇas and teachers even amid conflict.
Seeing her son Aśvatthāmā bound and dragged in captivity, Kṛpī—known here as satī (chaste and principled)—could not bear it and appealed on the grounds of brāhmaṇa status and guru relationship (son of Droṇācārya).
It teaches self-control and principled compassion: even when wronged, consider dharma, avoid humiliation of others, and uphold respect for teachers and sacred responsibilities while seeking justice.