Approaching him of incomparable deeds, he who is unrivalled in beauty on earth, he who has mastered all branches of learning, that occan of qualities, the faultless Ashvatthaman, your son said to him these words-. "O preceptor's son, you are today our highest refuge? Tell us, therefore, who should be the commander of my army now, placing whom at our head, all of us, united together, may defeat the Pandavas?"
तमप्रतिमकर्माणं रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि। पारगं सर्वविद्यानां गुणार्णवमनिन्दितम्॥ तमभ्येत्यात्मजस्तुभ्यमश्वत्थामानमब्रवीत्। यं पुरस्कृत्य सहिता युधि जेष्याम पाण्डवान्॥ गुरुपुत्रोऽद्य सर्वेषामस्माकं परमा गतिः। भवांस्तस्मान्नियोगात्ते कोऽस्तु सेनापतिर्मम॥