Adhyāya 6: Śibira-dvāra-sthita Bhūta-varṇana and Aśvatthāmā’s Śaraṇāgati to Mahādeva
ततः स कुपितो द्रौणिरिन्द्रकेतुनिभां गदाम्
tataḥ sa kupito drauṇir indraketunibhāṃ gadām
แล้วบุตรแห่งโทรณะผู้เดือดดาลด้วยโทสะก็ยกคทาซึ่งส่องประกายดุจธงชัยของพระอินทร์
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how anger (krodha) can seize a warrior’s mind and propel him toward destructive choices; the dazzling comparison to Indra’s banner underscores power and prestige, but also warns that such power becomes ethically perilous when guided by rage rather than restraint.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā, now furious, takes up a mace gleaming like Indra’s standard—an immediate preparation for violent action within the grim night-raid context of the Sauptika Parva.