Shloka 336
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
दश्ने नीलविनाशाय मतिं मतिमतां वर: । तदनन्तर बुद्धिमानोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामाने इन्द्रके वज़्की भाँति भयंकर टंकार करनेवाले अपने विचित्र धनुषको खींचकर नीलको मार डालनेका विचार किया
daśne nīlavināśāya matiṁ matimatāṁ varaḥ | tadanantaraṁ buddhimānāṁ śreṣṭha aśvatthāmā indrasya vajravat bhayaṅkaraṁ ṭaṅkāraṁ kurvat svam vicitra-dhanuḥ ākarṣya nīlaṁ hantum iti matiṁ cakāra |
Sañjaya nói: Rồi bấy giờ Aśvatthāman, bậc ưu tú trong hàng trí giả, quyết ý diệt Nīla. Kéo căng cây cung kỳ diệu của mình, phát tiếng bật rợn người như lôi chùy của Indra, chàng nung nấu ý định bắn hạ Nīla.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight of intention in warfare: a warrior’s skill and resolve can be turned toward destruction, and the narrative invites reflection on how deliberate resolve (mati/saṅkalpa) shapes ethical responsibility even amid battlefield duty.
Sanjaya describes Ashvatthama drawing his remarkable bow with a thunderous twang and deciding to slay the warrior Nila, signaling an imminent lethal engagement within the Kurukshetra battle.