Shloka 39
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
अथ द्रौणिरम॑हेष्वास: पाण्ड्यं शत्रुनिबर्हणम् । विरथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठ नाहनद् युद्धकाड्क्षया
atha drauṇir amaheṣvāsaḥ pāṇḍyaṃ śatrunibarhaṇam | virathaṃ rathināṃ śreṣṭha nāhanad yuddhakāṅkṣayā ||
Sañjaya nói: Rồi con trai Droṇa, Aśvatthāman—cung thủ vô song—đánh gục Pāṇḍya, kẻ diệt thù, và khiến bậc nhất trong hàng chiến xa binh ấy mất xe. Nhưng hắn không giết, vì vẫn còn muốn giao chiến với ông ta.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, a warrior’s choices can reflect values beyond mere victory—such as restraint, honor, and the wish to face an opponent in a ‘proper’ contest rather than killing him at a moment of helplessness.
Aśvatthāman disables Pāṇḍya by making him chariotless, but refrains from killing him immediately because he wants to continue fighting him, treating him as a worthy opponent.