Mahabharata · 7.165.125
॥
Devanāgarī
संजय उवाच
तच् छ्रुत्वा द्रोणपुत्रस् तु निधनं पितुर् आहवे ॥
क्रोधम् आहारयत् तीव्रं पदाहत इवोरगः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṃjaya uvāca
tac chrutvā droṇaputras tu nidhanaṃ pitur āhave ||
krodham āhārayat tīvraṃ padāhata ivoragaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तत् श्रुत्वा द्रोणपुत्रः तुtat śrutvā droṇaputraḥ tuhearing this, the son of Drona; hearing this, Drona's son
निधनम् पितुः आहवेnidhanam pituḥ āhavethe death of his father in battle; the demise of his father in the fight
क्रोधम् आहारयत् तीव्रम्krodham āhārayat tīvramblazed with fierce wrath; seethed with fierce anger
पदाहतः इव उरगःpadāhataḥ iva uragaḥlike a serpent trodden underfoot; like a snake trampled by a foot
Translation
Hearing this -- the death of his father in battle -- Drona's son [Ashvatthaman] blazed with fierce wrath, like a serpent trodden underfoot.
Version
621854be7bf9 · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:08:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The chapter closes with the image of "a serpent trodden underfoot": grief instantly turns to fury, ready to strike. It is telling that a tale of death, full of renunciation and yoga, ends in a flash of vengeance -- so the light of Drona's departure gives way to the darkness of his son's coming retribution. The verse teaches that anger born of love and loss burns especially fierce and blind; and he who lets grief turn to fury prepares new calamities -- here is tied the knot that will lead to the terrible night slaughter.