अथ संधाय वायव्यम् अस्त्रम् अस्त्रविदां वरः ॥
व्यधमद् द्रोणतनयो नीलमेघं समुत्थितम् ॥
स मार्गणगणैर् द्रौणिर् दिशः प्रच्छाद्य सर्वतः ॥
शतं रथसहस्राणां जघान द्विपदां वरः ॥
स दृष्ट्वा पुनर् आयान्तं रथेनायतकार्मुकम् ॥
घटोत्कचम् असंभ्रान्तं राक्षसैर् बहुभिर् वृतम् ॥
सिंहशार्दूलसदृशैर् मत्तद्विरदविक्रमैः ॥
गजस्थैश् च रथस्थैश् च वाजिपृष्ठगतैर् अपि ॥
atha saṃdhāya vāyavyam astram astravidāṃ varaḥ ||
vyadhamad droṇatanayo nīlameghaṃ samutthitam ||
sa mārgaṇagaṇair drauṇir diśaḥ pracchādya sarvataḥ ||
śataṃ rathasahasrāṇāṃ jaghāna dvipadāṃ varaḥ ||
sa dṛṣṭvā punar āyāntaṃ rathenāyatakārmukam ||
ghaṭotkacam asaṃbhrāntaṃ rākṣasair bahubhir vṛtam ||
siṃhaśārdūlasadṛśair mattadviradavikramaiḥ ||
gajasthaiś ca rathasthaiś ca vājipṛṣṭhagatair api ||
Then, invoking the vayavya weapon, the son of Drona, the best among knowers of astras, dispelled the risen dark-blue cloud. He, Drauni, having covered all the quarters with hosts of arrows, slew a hundred thousand chariots, the best of men. He then saw Ghatotkacha, unperturbed, again advancing on his chariot with bow drawn, surrounded by many rakshasas resembling lions and tigers, with the valor of maddened elephants, mounted on elephants, on chariots, and on the backs of horses...
3de69d380b85 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:40:45 PM UTC
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Alone, Ashvatthaman slays a hundred thousand chariots and dispels every illusion: his might on this night is without equal. It is significant that Ghatotkacha too is 'unperturbed,' returning again and again with fresh hosts: neither yields. The verse teaches that a meeting between two fearless warriors continues without either gaining the upper hand; and valor that knows no fear rises again and again, however often it is driven back.