Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 45
महाराज! अभिषेक हो जानेपर अभश्वत्थामाने नृपश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधनको हृदयसे लगाया और अपने सिंहनादसे सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको प्रतिध्वनित करते हुए वहाँसे प्रस्थान किया ।।
sañjaya uvāca | mahārāja! abhiṣeke ho jāne para aśvatthāmāne nṛpaśreṣṭha duryodhanaṃ hṛdayena āliṅgya, sva-siṃhanādena sampūrṇā diśaḥ pratidhvanitāḥ kṛtvā tataḥ prasthitaḥ || duryodhano 'pi rājendra śoṇitena pariplutaḥ | tāṃ niśāṃ pratipede 'tha sarvabhūta-bhayāvahām ||
Sañjaya thưa: “Tâu Đại vương! Khi lễ quán đỉnh đã hoàn tất, Aśvatthāmā ôm chặt Duryodhana bằng tấm lòng chân thành. Rồi ông gầm vang như sư tử, khiến bốn phương dội tiếng, và rời khỏi nơi ấy. Còn Duryodhana, ôi bậc chúa tể các vua, mình mẩy đẫm máu, đã ở lại đó suốt đêm—một đêm tối gieo kinh hãi vào lòng muôn loài.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral atmosphere of the war’s endgame: outward triumph (the lion-roar and departure) stands beside inner and cosmic dread (a night ‘fearful to all beings’). It suggests that violence and adharma do not yield peace; even the victors are left blood-soaked, haunted, and surrounded by fear.
After a consecration ceremony (abhiṣeka), Ashvatthama warmly embraces Duryodhana and leaves with a roaring proclamation. Duryodhana, grievously wounded and covered in blood, remains and spends the night there—described as a terrifying night that instills fear in all creatures.
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