In this stanza, there is a fault which is technically called निहेतुता and consists in the non-statement of the reason for something when such reason is expected to be stated. In the present case Ashvatthaman does not state the reason for his laying down the weapon. What he means to say is that as his father laid down his weapon put of grief for him, so he would lay down his weapon out of grief for his father. so grief for his father is really the reason for his laying down the weapon and this is riot stated, The facts that are stated can, none of the be the reason. For if his father ceased to fight in despair and sorrow for him, that should have urged to fight the more vigorously for the sake of revenge. So, that. can be no reason for Ceasing to fight. His sorrow at his father's death which is that reason finds no mention and hence the fault.
उपेक्षु, to overlook, to pass by, to neglect; to look on indifferently. असदृशं (परिभब)-Unprecedented, unparalled.
St. 20. आजौ शोकात् न्यस्तशस्त्रस्य नयनसलिलक्षालितार्द्राननस्य त्रिभुवन गुरोः आचार्यस्य द्रोणस्य पलितधवले मौलौ पाणिं न्यस्य नृशंसं कृत्वा अयं धृष्टद्युम्नः स्वाशाविरं याति, सर्वे सद्दध्वम् । नयनसालिलक्षालितार्द्राननस्य–नयनसंबन्धिना सलिलेन क्षालितं (अत एव )आर्द्र आननं यस्य तस्य- With his face wet, being bathed with tears. पालितं, a noun meaning grey hairs, hair turned 'grey with old age.' नृशंसं=नृशंसं कर्म.
Translation :-Here Dhrishtadyumna is proceeding to his camp after having Committing an atrocious deed by laying a violent hand on the hoary head of Dronacharya, the teacher par-excellence in the three worlds, as he stood, on the battlefield, will his weapon laid down through grief and with his face wet by being washed with tears. Do you all bear with it passively (boy all means). (This is said ironically).
Ashvattharman's indignation is heightend by this news about the manner in which his father came by his death. What does this mean?' says he.
St. 27. आत्तधनुष मनुजेश्वराण प्रत्यक्ष प्रायोपवेशसदृशं विधिं आस्थितस्य : अशलपाणे: मे तातस्य पालतमालानरस्तकाश शिरासि शस्त्रं व्यापारितम् ।
आत्तधनुषाम् -आत्तं धनुः यैः तेषाम्. It ought to be आत्तधन्वनाम् according to Panini, as this is a Bahuvri compound. अरातिलुनधनुषः occurring in St. 49 of act II is another irregularity of this kind.
