Shloka 56

Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā

Devanagari script

विमुच्य रशनाबद्धं बालहत्याहतप्रभम् । तेजसा मणिना हीनं शिबिरान्निरयापयत् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

vimucya raśanā-baddhaṁ bāla-hatyā-hata-prabham tejasā maṇinā hīnaṁ śibirān nirayāpayat

Translation

他[阿施瓦特塔玛]因杀害婴儿早已失去了身体的光泽，现在，又因失去了头上的宝石，力量更是大减。于是他被松绑并被驱逐出营地。

Synonyms

• vimucya: having freed
• vimucya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√muc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्); ‘having released’

• raśanā-baddham: bound with a rope
• raśanā-baddham: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raśanā + baddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; tatpuruṣa: raśanayā baddhaḥ (bound with a rope); PPP (क्त) baddha

• bāla-hatyā-hata-prabham: whose splendor was dimmed by the sin of killing children
• bāla-hatyā-hata-prabham: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla + hatyā + hata + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: bāla-hatyayā hata-prabhaḥ (whose luster was struck/dimmed by child-killing); hata (क्त PPP)

• tejasā: by (his) brilliance
• tejasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3), Singular

• maṇinā: by the jewel
• maṇinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular

• hīnam: deprived (of)
• hīnam: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Singular; agrees with (tam) implied object (Aśvatthāmā)

• śibirāt: from the camp
• śibirāt: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śibira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular

• nirayāpayat: drove out/expelled
• nirayāpayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√yā (धातु) + ṇic (causative)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; causative (णिजन्त), parasmaipada; ‘caused to go out/expelled’

Purport

Thus being insulted, the humiliated Aśvatthāmā was simultaneously killed and not killed by the intelligence of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvatthāmā
• Pāṇḍavas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the punishment of Aśvatthāmā?

This verse states that Aśvatthāmā, whose splendor was ruined by the sin of killing the sons, was released from bondage but banished from the camp, deprived of his radiance and stripped of his jewel.

Why was Aśvatthāmā driven out of the camp in Bhagavatam 1.7?

Because his act—killing the children—was a grievous sin, and the resolution was to spare his life yet impose a humiliating, dharmic punishment by removing his jewel and expelling him.

Practical application of this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

It highlights accountable justice: when wrongdoing occurs, consequences should protect others and uphold dharma, while avoiding needless cruelty born of revenge.