Shloka 20
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रदायाथ मर्णिं द्रौणि: पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । जगाम विमनास्तेषां सर्वेषां पश्यतां वनम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca pradāyātha maṇiṁ drauṇiḥ pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām | jagāma vimanās teṣāṁ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ vanam ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: Pagkaraang ibigay ni Droṇi, anak ni Droṇa, ang hiyas sa mga Pāṇḍava na dakila ang loob, siya’y umalis—lugmok ang puso—patungo sa gubat, habang silang lahat ay nakatanaw.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when punishment is mitigated, wrongdoing can culminate in moral defeat: restitution may be extracted, yet the wrongdoer departs burdened by shame and loss of honor, highlighting that adharma carries consequences beyond physical retribution.
Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi), after surrendering his jewel to the Pāṇḍavas, leaves for the forest in a dejected state, with the Pāṇḍavas watching—marking his withdrawal from the human sphere after the night’s atrocities.