Shloka 2
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत सौप्तिकपर्वमें अश्वत्थामा और कृपाचार्यका संवादविषयक दूसरा अध्याय पूरा हुआ,दह्यामानस्तु शोकेन प्रदीप्तेनाग्निना यथा । क्िरूरं मनस्तत: कृत्वा तावुभौ प्रत्यभाषत उसके हृदयमें शोककी आग प्रज्वलित हो उठी। वह उससे जलने लगा और अपने मनको कठोर बनाकर कृपाचार्य और कृतवर्मा दोनोंसे बोला--
dahyāmānas tu śokena pradīptenāgninā yathā | krūraṃ manas tataḥ kṛtvā tāv ubhau pratyabhāṣata ||
Nasusunog sa dalamhati na wari’y tinutupok ng naglalagablab na apoy, pinatigas ni Aśvatthāmā ang kanyang puso hanggang sa maging malupit, at saka niya kinausap ang dalawa—si Kṛpa at si Kṛtavarman.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense grief can transform into hardness and cruelty, warning that unchecked sorrow may become a catalyst for unethical action—especially in the volatile aftermath of war.
In the Sauptika Parva setting, the speaker describes a figure (contextually Aśvatthāmā) burning with grief and, after hardening his mind, addressing Kṛpa and Kṛtavarman—an emotional pivot that precedes decisive, morally charged speech and action.