स पुनर् भरतश्रेष्ठ क्रोधाद् रक्तान्तलोचनः ॥
तलं तलेन संहत्य संदश्य दशनच्छदम् ॥
स्वसूतम् अब्रवीत् क्रुद्धो द्रोणपुत्राय मां वह ॥
स ययौ घोररूपेण तेन जैत्रपताकिना ॥
द्वैरथं द्रोणपुत्रेण पुनर् अप्य् अरिसूदनः ॥
स चिक्षेप ततः क्रुद्धो द्रोणपुत्राय राक्षसः ॥
अष्टचक्रां महारौद्राम् अशनीं रुद्रनिर्मिताम् ॥
ताम् अवप्लुत्य जग्राह द्रौणिर् न्यस्य रथे धनुः ॥
चिक्षेप चैनां तस्यैव स्यन्दनात् सो ऽवपुप्लुवे ॥
साश्वसूतध्वजं वाहं भस्म कृत्वा महाप्रभा ॥
विवेश वसुधां भित्त्वा साशनिर् भृशदारुणा ॥
sa punar bharataśreṣṭha krodhād raktāntalocanaḥ ||
talaṃ talena saṃhatya saṃdaśya daśanacchadam ||
svasūtam abravīt kruddho droṇaputrāya māṃ vaha ||
sa yayau ghorarūpeṇa tena jaitrapatākinā ||
dvairathaṃ droṇaputreṇa punar apy arisūdanaḥ ||
sa cikṣepa tataḥ kruddho droṇaputrāya rākṣasaḥ ||
aṣṭacakrāṃ mahāraudrām aśanīṃ rudranirmitām ||
tām avaplutya jagrāha drauṇir nyasya rathe dhanuḥ ||
cikṣepa caināṃ tasyaiva syandanāt so 'vapupluve ||
sāśvasūtadhvajaṃ vāhaṃ bhasma kṛtvā mahāprabhā ||
viveśa vasudhāṃ bhittvā sāśanir bhṛśadāruṇā ||
He again, O best of the Bharatas, with the corners of his eyes crimson from anger, clapped palm against palm, bit his lip, and advanced in a terrible form, with that victorious chariot and banner, to single combat with the son of Drona once more — that destroyer of enemies. Then, enraged, the rakshasa hurled at the son of Drona an eight-wheeled, most terrible thunderbolt fashioned by Rudra. Leaping down from his chariot, Drauni caught it, laid his bow upon the chariot, and hurled it back at him; the other leapt down from his own chariot. Turning the car — with its horses, charioteer, and banner — to ashes, that greatly radiant, most terrible thunderbolt entered the earth, tearing it open.
5397fcf9e935 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:40:45 PM UTC
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Ashvatthaman catches the thunderbolt hurled by Rudra and throws it back — a superhuman feat. It is telling that Ghatotkacha manages to leap clear, yet his chariot is reduced to ashes: the weapons of the gods show no mercy. The verse teaches that supreme presence of mind can turn an enemy's own weapon against him; and one who catches a thunderbolt in flight displays a composure before which even divine power gives way.