Shloka 373
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
विस्फुरन्तं च पशुवत् तथैवैनममारयत् | अश्वत्थामाने झपटकर उसे पकड़ लिया और पृथ्वीपर दे मारा। वह उसके चंगुलसे छूटनेके लिये बहुतेरा हाथ-पैर मारता रहा; किंतु अश्वत्थामाने उसे भी पशुकी तरह गला घोंटकर मार डाला
visphurantaṃ ca paśuvat tathaivainam amārayat |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “Kahit siya’y pumipilipit at nagpupumiglas na parang hayop, pinatay pa rin siya ni Aśvatthāmā. Sa biglang pagsalakay, sinunggaban niya ito at ibinagsak sa lupa; bagama’t nagpagalaw nang todo ang lalaki upang makawala, sinakal siya ni Aśvatthāmā hanggang mamatay, na parang isang hayop.” Ipinakikita ng taludtod ang malupit at nakapagpapawalang-tao na kalabisan ng pagsalakay sa gabi, kung saan natatabunan ng galit at paghihiganti ang pagpipigil at dharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how unchecked fury and vengeance in war can erase human restraint, reducing both victim and killer to a state described as ‘paśuvat’ (beast-like). It implicitly contrasts such conduct with dharmic warfare, where limits and compassion restrain violence.
During the Sauptika episode, Aśvatthāmā seizes a struggling opponent, throws him to the ground, and kills him by throttling, while Sañjaya reports the scene to Dhṛtarāṣṭra as part of the night-time slaughter.