Shloka 24

मर्मस्वभ्यवधीत्‌ क्रुद्ध: पादाष्ठीलै: सुदारुणै: । उस वीरसे ऐसा कहते हुए क्रोधी अश्वत्थामाने मतवाले हाथीपर चोट करनेवाले सिंहके समान अपनी अत्यन्त भयंकर एड़ियोंसे उसके मर्मस्थानोंपर प्रहार किया ।। तस्य वीरस्य शब्देन मार्यमाणस्य वेश्मनि

marmasv abhyavadhīt kruddhaḥ pādāṣṭhīlaiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ | tasya vīrasya śabdena māryamāṇasya veśmani |

Sañjaya nói: Trong cơn thịnh nộ, Aśvatthāmā dùng những gót chân cứng khủng khiếp đánh vào các yếu huyệt. Và bởi tiếng kêu của vị chiến sĩ khi bị đánh đập trong căn nhà, việc ấy liền bị hay biết.

मर्मसुin the vital spots
मर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
अभ्यवधीत्struck, smote
अभ्यवधीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-√वध्
FormAorist (luṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
क्रुद्धःangry
क्रुद्धः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootक्रुद्ध (√क्रुध्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पादाष्ठीलैःwith the heels (heel-bones)
पादाष्ठीलैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपादाष्ठीला
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
सुदारुणैःvery dreadful
सुदारुणैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसुदारुण
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
तस्यof him, of that
तस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
वीरस्यof the hero
वीरस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
शब्देनby/with the sound (cry)
शब्देन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
मार्यमाणस्यof (him) being killed/struck
मार्यमाणस्य:
TypeAdjective
Rootमार्यमाण (√मृ/√मार् caus.)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
वेश्मनिin the house/palace
वेश्मनि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवेश्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular

संजय उवाच

संजय (Sañjaya)
अश्वत्थामा (Aśvatthāmā)
वीर (unnamed warrior/victim)
वेश्मन् (dwelling/house)
पादाष्ठील (heels)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how anger and revenge can drive a warrior to strike at vital points with extreme cruelty, especially in a night-raid setting. It implicitly contrasts such conduct with the restraints expected by dharma, showing the moral collapse that can occur when violence is pursued without limits.

Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāmā, furious, attacking a warrior inside a dwelling and striking his vital spots with his hard heels. The victim’s cries (the ‘sound’ in the house) are noted, emphasizing the brutality and the confined, secretive setting of the assault.