Shloka 183
Adhyāya 6: Śibira-dvāra-sthita Bhūta-varṇana and Aśvatthāmā’s Śaraṇāgati to Mahādeva
तप्त: कृपवाक्यमनुस्मरन् । अस्त्रहीन अश्वत्थामा यह अत्यन्त अद्भुत दृश्य देखकर कृपाचार्यके वचनोंको बारंबार स्मरण करता हुआ अत्यन्त संतप्त हो उठा और मन-ही-मन इस प्रकार कहने लगा --
taptaḥ kṛpavākyam anusmaran | astrahīnaḥ aśvatthāmā yaḥ atyanta-adbhuta-dṛśyaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛpācāryasya vacanāni bāraṃbāraṃ smaran atyantaṃ santapto 'bhavat, manasā caivaṃ uvāca |
Wika ni Sañjaya: Walang sandata at nag-aalab sa dalamhati, si Aśvatthāmā—matapos masaksihan ang isang lubhang kagila-gilalas na tanawin—ay paulit-ulit na inaalala ang mga salita ni Ācārya Kṛpa. Nababalot ng pagsisisi at pagdurusang panloob, nagsimula siyang magsalita sa sarili, na wari’y tinataya ang moral na bunga ng gagawin niya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral counsel (Kṛpa’s words) continues to press upon the conscience even amid rage and defeat. Aśvatthāmā’s inner heat and repeated recollection suggest that ethical awareness persists, and that choices made in war are judged not only by victory but by dharmic consequence.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāmā after seeing a startling scene and finding himself without weapons. He is intensely distressed and keeps remembering Kṛpa’s counsel; then he begins an internal monologue, setting up the next action and revealing his psychological and ethical turmoil.