Shloka 346
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
अपश्यच्छयने सुप्तमुत्तमौजसमन्तिके । इस प्रकार धृष्टद्युम्म और उसके सेवकोंका वध करके अभश्व॒त्थामाने निकटके ही खेमेमें पलंगपर सोये हुए उत्तमौजाको देखा
apaśyac chayane suptam uttamaujasaṃ antike |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Matapos patayin si Dhṛṣṭadyumna at ang kanyang mga tagapaglingkod, nakita ni Aśvatthāmā si Uttamaujā na natutulog sa isang higaan sa kalapit na tolda. Ipinakikita ng tagpong ito ang pagbagsak ng dangal sa pagsalakay sa gabi: hindi siya hinarap sa lantad na labanan, kundi natagpuang walang panlaban sa pagtulog—kaya ang tagumpay ay naging pagpatay, hindi isang tunggaliang ayon sa dharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical inversion of warfare when violence targets the unarmed and sleeping. It frames the night-raid as a departure from kṣatriya-dharma, where combat is ideally between alert, armed opponents, making the act morally weighty even if militarily effective.
After killing Dhṛṣṭadyumna and others during the nocturnal assault, Aśvatthāmā moves through the camp and notices Uttamaujā asleep on a bed in a nearby tent, setting up the next act of the raid.