Shloka 21
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-राजन्! इसके बाद महात्मा पाण्डवोंको मणि देकर द्रोणकुमार अश्वत्थामा उदास मनसे उन सबके देखते-देखते वनमें चला गया ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca—rājan! tataḥ sa maṇiṁ mahātmabhyaḥ pāṇḍavebhyo dattvā droṇaputro ’śvatthāmā udāsamanāḥ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ vanam jagāma. pāṇḍavāś cāpi govindaṁ puraskṛtya hatadviṣaḥ, kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṁ caiva nāradaṁ ca mahāmunim; droṇaputrasambhavāṁ maṇiṁ gṛhītvā, ā-maraṇānuśananiścayāṁ manasvinīṁ draupadīm upagantum śīghraṁ jagmuḥ.
毗舍波耶那说道：“大王！其后，德罗那之子阿湿婆他摩将宝珠交予大心的般度诸子，便在众目睽睽之下，怀着沮丧之心遁入森林。般度诸子亦然，既已诛灭仇敌，便以戈文达（圣克里希那）为先导，并偕克里希那·德瓦伊帕亚那·毗耶娑与大圣那罗陀；携那与德罗那之子相关而得的宝珠，急趋前往见那立志坚决的德劳帕蒂——她已坐下发誓行‘至死绝食’之戒。此景凸显暴力与报复的道德重负：纵然胜利在手，悲恸与责任仍不消散；众人转而求诸劝诫与克制，而非再起复仇之火。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after a just victory, dharma demands restraint and accountability: the aggressor withdraws in shame, while the victors seek wise counsel and move to prevent further harm—especially when grief drives extreme vows like fasting unto death.
Aśvatthāmā hands over his jewel to the Pāṇḍavas and leaves for the forest, despondent. The Pāṇḍavas, led by Kṛṣṇa and accompanied by Vyāsa and Nārada, hurry to Draupadī, who has resolved to fast until death, bringing the jewel connected with Aśvatthāmā.