Shloka 21
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
अभ्यभाषत संक्रुद्धो द्रौणि: परपुरंजय: । तिष्ठ तिष्ठाद्य ब्रह्मघ्न न मे जीवन् विमोक्ष्यसे
sañjaya uvāca | abhyabhāṣata saṅkruddho drauṇiḥ parapurañjayaḥ | tiṣṭha tiṣṭhādya brahmaghna na me jīvan vimokṣyase ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Sa tindi ng galit, si Aśvatthāmā, anak ni Droṇa—manlulupig ng mga kuta ng kaaway—ay agad sumigaw: “Tumigil! Tumigil diyan ngayon, mamamatay-tao ng isang brāhmaṇa! Hindi ka makatatakas sa akin nang buhay.” Ang sigaw na ito’y naglatag sa labanan hindi lamang bilang paghabol sa digmaan, kundi bilang paratang na moral, na tumatawag sa mabigat na kasalanang brahma-hatyā upang bigyang-katwiran ang walang-awat na paghihiganti sa lumalalang kalupitan ng digmaan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral language (accusations like brahma-hatyā) is invoked within warfare to frame an enemy as irredeemably culpable, thereby intensifying the drive for punishment. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between kṣatriya violence and ethical accountability.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā, arriving in fury, challenges an opponent, ordering him to stand and declaring he will not let him escape alive, while branding him a ‘brahmaghna’ to condemn him and justify the imminent attack.