Warrior Ashwatthama
Ashwatthama was the son of Dronacharya. Kripi was his mother. As soon as he was born he cried like horse. Therefore, his name was Ashwatthama due to performing cried like a horse. He was very cruel and wicked. At that time, the father did not have much affection for him. He did not have all the motivation in his heart for religion and justice, nor did he hesitate to commit any kind of terror.
His childhood was spent with great difficulties. Dronacharya was very poor at the time of his birth. He did not have enough money for the upbringing of his wife and child. There was not even a cow for milk. One day Ashwatthama was very hungry. He asked for milk from his mother Krupi. Kripi started to become sad after seeing the stubbornness of the child, and she started to entertain him in some way, but Ashwatthama got caught up. Finally Kripi washed rice and gave white water to the child to drink. Ashwatthama did not know what is the difference between milk and water, considering it to be milk, he drank it and after saving some of it; he went to show the sage sons. The sage sons recognized the rice water and started ridiculing Ashwatthama. Then Ashwatthama came to realize that Mother had seduced her by giving him other things. He went and started crying in Kripi's lap. What unbearable pain must have happened to Kripi at a time when he had cheated on her son due to poverty.
After childhood, puberty was cut off in the full splendor of Ashwatthama. Dronacharya got half the kingdom of Drupada, then he became the guru of Pandavas and Kauravas, which gave him immense wealth. Ashwatthama once also said that I do not lack anything, I have all the wealth, the state and the property. After this, the honor of Ashwatthama continued to increase, but after the Mahabharata war, he again had to bear the curse of God.
Ashwatthama was a great warrior. Bhishma Pitamah once praised him and said, “Ashwatthama is a warrior. The archers are the best, the finest war-goers and the hard-hitting. In the field of war, there is a real Yamraj, but there is a flaw in them. Life is very dear. Due to fear of death, they steal from war. For this reason neither consider them as chariots nor extravagant.”
Bhishma Pitamah has rightly praised Ashwatthama. He was really such a knight, but Bhishma has smeared his character by saying that he is afraid of death even when he was not so timid who is afraid of death. Many times he faced the enemy by coming to the battlefield. Once angry at Karna, he did not care for his life and broke down with a sword. Once upon a time, the Kauravas thought of attacking the city of Virat. At that time, many ominous things started happening, seeing Dronacharya said, “At this time we should not go to war, because it seems, we will not be able to defeat Arjuna.” Hearing this praise of Arjuna from Dronacharya's mouth, Karna's heart caught fire. When this was not endured by him, he began to speak bitter words to Dronacharya and at the same time he started filling his pride. At this time Ashwatthama deteriorated and replied to all Kauravas and Karna, “Who can be satisfied by taking a kingdom with the gambling of Kshatriya fraud, except for the merciless Duryodhana? Who would like to increase his wealth by getting wealth by deceit like a Fowler? Has taken everything away, has he ever been defeated in a face-to-face battle? In which war did you drag Draupadi into the assembly after defeating the Pandavas?”
“Karna! You exude your valor today. I say, Arjuna is far superior to you in strength and might.”
After this he then turned to Duryodhana and said, “Just as you gambled, dragged Draupadi to the assembly and as you grabbed the kingdom of Indraprastha, face Arjuna now. Proficient in Kshatriya religion, clever, The gambler also comes to show his might to your maternal uncle. No one will go out of you to confront the mighty Arjun. I will not fight him. Yes! If he come to the site, I will definitely face him”
Hearing Ashwatthama's words, everyone became silent. Ashwatthama was so courageous and bold. Bhishma's last words do not fit his character. I do not know on what occasion Bhishma made such a decision.
Once again Ashwatthama was angry on Karna. When Dronacharya was the commander of the army of the Kauravas, seeing the velocity of the Pandavas' army, Duryodhana said to Karna, “Veer Karna! You are my friend. See how badly the Pandavas are killing the Kaurava army. This is the time to introduce your friendship. It is an appropriate opportunity to give, show it by doing something.”
Hearing the words of Duryodhana, Karna started boasting of his might. He started to say, “What will Arjun do in front of me and fight? I can defeat him in a moment. What is his strength that he can face my sharp arrows? I will smuggle him into the battlefield and show my true friendship.”
Kripacharya was listening to these things of Karna. He was feeling very bad. He also reprimanded Karna for this conceit. He also called Karna bad. He even said that if he uses his tongue this time, I will cut with this sword.
Kripacharya was the maternal uncle of Ashwatthama and anyway he was the guru of the Kaurava-Pandavas and was an old man, hence Ashwatthama could not bear his insult. He came in a fit of anger and said to Karna, “Sutputra! You are terrible. You don't want to understand anything in front of you. You praise yourself with your own mouth. Where was your valor sleeping when Arjuna killed Jayadratha? If you are a true warrior, then at that time you would have faced the mighty Arjuna and smashed him and saved the life of Jayadratha.”
Karna got angry after hearing these bitter words. He stood up. Here Ashwatthama also drew a sword and pounced on it. At that moment Duryodhana and Kripacharya came and intervened to see the fight growing. Duryodhana explained to both of them and said, “Warriors! You have all my strength, then why do you want to destroy this power by fighting among themselves?”
Looking at this incident shows that Ashwatthama was very upright. He did not believe in sycophancy. He was not afraid of even abusing Duryodhana, then how can we say that Ashwatthama was a coward, but later on, he did such terror-like acts as thieves that he was swept away by all his bravery and was disgusting and was considered cruel. He killed the five sons of Draupadi while they were sleeping unconscious, but the reason behind why he became so cruel and barbaric vampire. His father was also murdered unjustly.
When Dronacharya heard from Dharmaraja Yudhishthira that Ashwatthama was killed, he gave up his weapons and sat on his chariot for doing yoga. Then Dhrishtdyumna came and cut his head. Dronacharya had received the fruits of his actions because he had also killed unarmed Abhimanyu in the same way, but when Ashwatthama came to know about the unjust slaughter of his father, he was very sad and he pledged to destroy by burnt the Pandavas and Panchalas in anger. Duryodhana encouraged him even more for this. Ashwatthama was also very angry at Yudhishthira because he never expected such a lie from that person. He immediately raised his arm and said, “In lieu of this injustice, the dead bodies of the Pandavas will be found on the earth. I will use Narayanastra, which no one knows except me. By that I will destroy all the pride of the enemy today and Will erase you from this earth forever.”
The next day Ashwatthama used the same Narayanastra. There was an outcry in the Pandavas army. Many valiant warriors fell on the earth after being destroyed. Nobody had the ability to stop that weapon. Here a dispute arose between the Pandavas on the death of Dronacharya. Thus, Arjun and Satyaki did not like the unjust murder of Guru. Both of them started calling Dhrishtadyumna bad. He was deeply mourned for the death of the Guru, even Satyaki went on to kill Dhrishtadyumna with a mace. At that time Bhimsen, after getting the sign of Shri Krishna, went and stopped him somehow because Ashwatthama was coming here killing the Pandava army and there was a growing conflict between them. There was a possibility of this most apocalypse. Somebody even blamed Yudhishthira for killing the Guru, then Dharmaraja came in a rage and said to Dhrishtaduman, “Run away with the army of Panchalas, walk away with the Yadavas of the lineages of Vrishni, Andhak, etc. Sri Krishna will protect himself. You will do it otherwise the soldiers should stop the war. I will be consumed by the brothers in the burning fire. I have killed Acharya by lying, that's why Arjun is angry with me. I would like to make Arjuna happy by giving my life. What less ill-treatment has Acharya done to us? Many warriors killed Abhimanyu alone and killed him in front of Acharya. Draupadi's misfortune also happened in front of them. When Duryodhana got tired, it was Acharya who sent him with an impenetrable armor to attack us. What did he not do to protect Jayadratha? The Pran Acharya of Satyajit Adi Panchalas and his brothers who tried for victory, had taken the Brahmastra. The Kauravas had prevented us from confronting them even when they were taken out unjustly. Have you looked at that?”
Seeing the charge of Yudhishthira, all the warriors came to a standstill. Dharmaraja had rightly said because even though Dronacharya was a teacher, but there was also cruelty in him. Partiality was also in him. As time passed in the charge of Yudhishthira and the Narayanastra left by Ashwatthama became even more intense, then Shri Krishna stopped all the soldiers from fighting and announced, “Hero! This Narainastra is very fierce, no one will be able to face it. All of you keep weapons and get down from your vehicles. By lying on the earth, you will be able to save yourself from the attack of this powerful weapon. And will try to deal with this weapon, it will be even more potent”
All the warriors, obeying Shri Krishna, got down from their vehicles and lay down on the earth, but in Bhimsen's mind Sri Krishna did not sit. He still expressed his bravery, saying, “I will deflate this weapon by firing an arrow, mace. There is no need to be afraid. Today I will show my might.”
He also asked Arjuna to lift Gandiva, but Arjuna replied that he would never use Gandiva against Cow, Brahmin and Narayanastra.
Hearing of Arjuna, Bhimsen got angry and pounced towards Ashwatthama. He hid Ashwatthama's chariot with arrows, but this made Narayanastra even more intense. At that time Arjuna and Shri Krishna came and snatched the weapon from Bhimsen's hand and took it off the chariot. After this, Narayanastra calmed down and thus survived the destruction of the Pandavas. After Narayanastra calmed down, Duryodhana again asked Ashwatthama to use the same weapon, but Ashwatthama did not run him again. After that he fought a fierce battle with the Pandava-army, and in the meantime he used powerful firearms. His idea was to destroy the entire Pandava army, including Arjuna and Krishna, but Arjuna soon used the Brahmastra to calm the weapon, but within a moment, the firearms consumed an Akshohini army of Pandavas. When Ashwatthama did not control anything, he returned from the battlefield disappointed and started condemning archery. On the way he found Maharishi Vyas. He explained to him a lot and said, “Son! Who has the ability to kill Arjuna and Shri Krishna, who you regret so much for your failure in vain?” By explaining Vyas ji, the anguish of Ashwatthama's heart disappeared.
At the end of the Mahabharata war we get Ashwatthama. All the major warriors of the Kaurava dynasty had collapsed, only Duryodhana was left. He was the last commander. The Pandava army was growing rapidly. The Kaurava army started running after being frightened by his attack. Even Duryodhana's feels anxiety. He, too, hid in Dwaipayan lake. Pandav Veer started searching for Duryodhana and when he came to know that he had hidden in the lake, he reached the banks of the lake and started daring Duryodhana as a coward. Duryodhana came out on hearing the challenge, and he had a mace-battle with Bhimsen. In that war, Bhimsen struck a mace on his thigh at the behest of Krishna, due to which he was hurt and fell on the earth, but this work was against the rules of war. Ashwatthama got very angry at seeing this injustice of Bhimsen. The second time he saw the injustice of the Pandavas. Duryodhana lay on the earth groaning with unbearable pain. At that time, Kritavarma and Kripacharya were also present there. Everyone was angry at this injustice. If he did not suffer from Ashwatthama, he raised his hand and vowed that he would take a breath of satisfaction only after destroying the Pandavas.
From there, the three men Ashwatthama, Kripacharya and Kritavarma went towards the forest because the Pandavas feared a face-to-face war when they stayed, for which they did not have enough power. In the solitude of Ashwatthama forest, he started thinking about how to repay the Pandavas in some manner. One was the slaughter of the father and then the unjust slaughter of the king for whom he had dedicated his life, provoking his heart even more. He wanted to destroy the Pandavas in some way, but due to not having so much power, no proper plan could be made. It was night after thinking, but still he could not sleep. When one or two o'clock in the night came out, he saw that an owl came to the same banyan tree under which he lay, and started hunting the sleeping crows. There was uproar among the crows. But the owl killed many crows. Ashwatthama kept watching all this, then a thought came in his mind that if he would come face to face with the Pandavas, then he would not be able to defeat them and they would not suffer any special loss, so the way the owl alone came to sleep. Inattentive crows have been thrown to death, in the same way, if he too goes to kill the Pandavas at night, then his pledge can be fulfilled. Although attacking the sleeping enemy at night was against the rules of war, but Ashwatthama had seen the violation of these rules from the Pandavas. Therefore, he did not worry at all and similarly determined to destroy the Pandavas.
In the morning, he told Kripacharya and Kritavarma his plan, but both of them opposed it. Kripacharya started talking about religion and policy, Ashwatthama got angry on this and started calling both of them bad. In the end, both of them had to obey him. All three came to the Pandavas' camp, firmly in their thoughts. Ashwatthama suddenly broke down on the sleeping Pandava army. He stabbed many to death with his sword. Kripacharya and Kritavarma killed those who ran out of panic. Thus, the three together killed innumerable warriors outside and inside, and then set fire to the camp, causing chaos all around. Somehow Ashwatthama also discovered his father's killer Dhrishtadyumna and strangled him to death. He also killed the five sons of Draupadi at the same time. Ashwatthama's anger was so intense at that time that justice, mercy, religion, etc. were completely lost in his eyes. He was playing barbarism and cruelty. At that time, the five Pandavas, Shri Krishna and Satyaki were not in the camp. When the Kauravas were defeated, when the Pandavas took control of their camp, they got immense wealth, gold, silver, gems, jewelry, clothes, slave-maids, etc., over which they took possession. When everyone started going to sleep in the camp with complete happiness, Krishna told Yudhishthira that we should live outside the camp today with welfare and wishes. That is why they survived. Otherwise, I do not know what the end of the Mahabharata war would be. But even then, as the nightfall was caused by the disturbance of Ashwatthama at this time, it has never happened before. The reason for this was that most of the heroes used to follow the rules of war, only when the evening ended, the Kaurava-Pandavas used to go to each other's camps and talk with full harmony. Then attacking like a thief in this way is a blot on the dignity of valor. The Kshatriyas never feel proud by killing the enemy like this, but Ashwatthama somehow got his revenge and after making a terrible cry, he came to Duryodhana and said, “Duryodhana! I recompensed the injustice done to you by the Pandavas. I have taken fire in their camp and destroyed them. The five Pandavas, Shri Krishna and Satyaki are definitely surviving because they are not in the camp.”
“Duryodhana! Now take satisfaction. Not only human, but animals and birds have also killed in the camp. The Pandavas must be celebrating their victory, but when they listen to this apocalypse, they will forget all their happiness.”
Duryodhana, as if listening to Ashwatthama, woke up from the unconsciousness of unbearable pain. He praised Ashwatthama, saying, “Brave Ashwatthama! Today you have satisfied my soul. You have done the work which not done by any warriors like your father Drona, Bhishma Pitamah, Karna etc. You killed the sinner Dhishtadyumna. Hearing this, my chest has become cold because the same sinner murdered Gurudev unjustly, then you have done a great job by killing Shikhandi with him because Arjuna had brought down the grandfather by facing him. Really, I don't regret my defeat anymore. I go to heaven to be happy. Warriors! That's where we'll all meet.”
Hearing this, Duryodhana's breath stopped. Ashwatthama, on the one hand, started feeling unhappy due to Duryodhana's death, but on the other hand he was experiencing an immense pride today. He thought that his father's deranged soul must have calmed down today because his son has repaid from the unjust.
Here, Draupadi got mad at seeing the dead bodies of her five sons. His lap was dry in one night. Where Duryodhana collapsed in the evening, he was proud of his victory and how far the terrorist came and crushed all his happiness and destroyed it forever. She fell in front of Yudhishthira, with crying. At this time Bhimsen took over her. Draupadi got up in the meantime and said that till the killer of my sons, that sinner and the evil Ashwatthama will not be killed, till then I will not take food and water. There is a great gem in the forehead of that injustice. As long as no one brings it and gives it to me, I will not be able to believe that the wicked has been killed.
Hearing this talk of Draupadi, Bhimsen took up his mace and ran after Ashwatthama. After Bhimsen departed with full charge, Shri Krishna said to Yudhishthira, “Dharmaraja! One must take measures to protect Bhimsen as Ashwatthama possesses the Brahmashir weapon, which can destroy the entire earth in a moment. Guru Dronacharya had given this weapon to his beloved disciple Arjuna, but when Ashwatthama came to know about it, he was unhappy and asked the father to teach him that weapon. Dronacharya did not believe in his son because he knew that this cruel instinctive Ashwatthama could misuse the weapon anywhere. That is why he did not teach him to use it earlier, but he had to teach it when he moved more. Even then he had promised him that he would not misuse it. He would use it only when there was a particular crisis. Ashwatthama assured him and learned. Now he has the biggest fear of that because Ashwatthama does not have much idea of what is right and unfair, maybe he will be devastated if he sits in a rage and uses the Brahmashir weapon. Let me tell you about his wretchedness. Once he came to Dwarka and said to me, “Father has learned the Brahmashir weapon from Maharishi Agastya that I have received. Take it from me and give me your Sudarshan Chakra in return.”
To this I replied, “I do not need your Brahmashir weapon. Take whatever you need from my bow, power, mace and chakra.” Sudarshan Chakra had a thousand iron saws, so Ashwatthama could not lift it even after applying his full power. This left him completely depressed. He is very cruel and merciless by nature and the feelings of religion and justice have no place in his heart, so I say that it is necessary to protect Bhimsen in this situation.”
Yudhishthira and Arjuna accepted Shri Krishna, and both walked with them in chariots. He wanted to go and return Bhima, but Bhima was growing at the speed of the wind. He reached the banks of the Ganga. There Ashwatthama was, sitting next to Vyas ji among the sages. Seeing him, Bhimsen shot an arrow on the bow. At the same time Arjuna, Yudhishthira and Krishna also reached there. Ashwatthama understood that they had come together to kill him, so coming in a rage together, he uprooted a darbha from nearby and made a weapon by using prayer on it. While leaving, he commanded the weapon that no Pandavas should survive. The fierce fire broke out as soon as that weapon was released. It seemed as if it would burn the three worlds and consume them in a moment.
Seeing this, Krishna pointed to Arjuna because he could save everyone's life from this crisis. Guru Dronacharya even taught this weapon to Arjuna. Then Arjuna jumped onto the ground with his Gandiva bow and used Brahmashir weapon to calm down the weapon. Seeing the fiery flames blazing from both sides, there was chaos. When Arjuna saw the two maharishis standing in the middle, he immediately pacified his weapon and with this he prayed forgiveness but said, “Oh God, I have silenced my weapon in your honor, but if the weapon of Ashwatthama is not calm, then our Holocaust is near. Now tell me, what should we do?” Ashwatthama knew how to operate the weapon, but he did not know the method of returning it. He also said to Vyas ji, “O Mahamuni! I will not return the weapon. I want to see the Holocaust of the Pandavas. They are very unjust, vicious and sinners.”
Hearing Ashwatthama's passionate words, Vyasji explained a lot to him and said, “Don't be foolish, Ashwatthama. See, Arjuna never wished to take your life. He has calmed his arms, so all the faint feeling of his heart remove and make your weapon cool. Why do you want the Holocaust of the Pandavas? Do you not know that in which state the Brahmashir weapon is made useless by the divine weapon? There does not rain for eleven years. That is why Arjuna, despite being able, does not destroy your weapon. Thinking of the welfare of all, you should calm your weapon and give the gem in your head to Yudhishthira.”
On this Ashwatthama said, “O Maharishi, this gem is unique in the world. This type of gem cannot be found anywhere. If it is possessed by anyone, there is no suffering of weapons, disease, hunger, thirst etc. Gods, demons, No one harasses the serpent and the thief, etc. I can never violate your orders, this is my gem, if you wish, give it to Yudhishthira, but this powerful weapon of mine will go to the womb of Uttara. I want to destroy the clan of pandavas, including the root.”
Vyas ji fell silent on hearing this cruel determination of Ashwatthama, but Shri Krishna said, “Ashwatthama, show your divine weapon with all its might. The child of the womb will be born as dead, but still he will live and rule for sixty years. And will carry forward the dynasty of the Pandavas. He will born after the death of the Kaurava dynasty, so he will be named as Parikshit. Kripacharya will teach him the Dhanurveda. But Ashwatthama! You will have to pay the full penalty for this cruelty and inhumanity. For three thousand years you will have to wander alone in a desolate country. No one will speak to you. Blood will smell from your body. You will get leprosy and many kinds of diseases, due to which your life will continue to be a curse.”
Shri Krishna was unwavering. This punishment was given to Ashwatthama by Daiva. The gem is snatched away from it. Draupadi was very angry at Ashthama. She wants him to avenge the slaughter of his sons and similarly Bhimsen wants to kill him in full rage, but Yudhishthira leaves him with compassion, and he goes towards the forest, saddened by his fate. It is said that he had immortality, so even today, there is a belief that Ashwatthama comes inside the city by assuming the form of a humble beggar, but no one recognizes him.
In this way, Ashwatthama's life became a curse forever. This was the result of his cruelty. In the end, it can be said that perhaps none of the characters of Mahabharata did as Ashwatthama did by killing the five sons of Draupadi. This was a very despicable abomination, so no matter how great a warrior Ashwatthama was and was proficient in archery. But the feeling of respect in the heart of man does not awaken him. It has to be said that he was a type of male vampire, who could act completely vile and blind in the fire of vengeance. Inadvertent at night and his attack on unarmed soldiers, destroys all the dignity of the Mahabharata war. Tales go on till today about that huge war, that they were loyal warriors who fought throughout the day and came to each other's camps and hugged each other at the end of the evening. This was the difference between today's war and that war of Mahabharata. There was less deceit and hypocrisy, but Ashwatthama attacked like a thief at night with deceit and destroyed that dignity. Indeed, he was cruel and merciless like an owl.
His childhood was spent with great difficulties. Dronacharya was very poor at the time of his birth. He did not have enough money for the upbringing of his wife and child. There was not even a cow for milk. One day Ashwatthama was very hungry. He asked for milk from his mother Krupi. Kripi started to become sad after seeing the stubbornness of the child, and she started to entertain him in some way, but Ashwatthama got caught up. Finally Kripi washed rice and gave white water to the child to drink. Ashwatthama did not know what is the difference between milk and water, considering it to be milk, he drank it and after saving some of it; he went to show the sage sons. The sage sons recognized the rice water and started ridiculing Ashwatthama. Then Ashwatthama came to realize that Mother had seduced her by giving him other things. He went and started crying in Kripi's lap. What unbearable pain must have happened to Kripi at a time when he had cheated on her son due to poverty.
After childhood, puberty was cut off in the full splendor of Ashwatthama. Dronacharya got half the kingdom of Drupada, then he became the guru of Pandavas and Kauravas, which gave him immense wealth. Ashwatthama once also said that I do not lack anything, I have all the wealth, the state and the property. After this, the honor of Ashwatthama continued to increase, but after the Mahabharata war, he again had to bear the curse of God.
Ashwatthama was a great warrior. Bhishma Pitamah once praised him and said, “Ashwatthama is a warrior. The archers are the best, the finest war-goers and the hard-hitting. In the field of war, there is a real Yamraj, but there is a flaw in them. Life is very dear. Due to fear of death, they steal from war. For this reason neither consider them as chariots nor extravagant.”
Bhishma Pitamah has rightly praised Ashwatthama. He was really such a knight, but Bhishma has smeared his character by saying that he is afraid of death even when he was not so timid who is afraid of death. Many times he faced the enemy by coming to the battlefield. Once angry at Karna, he did not care for his life and broke down with a sword. Once upon a time, the Kauravas thought of attacking the city of Virat. At that time, many ominous things started happening, seeing Dronacharya said, “At this time we should not go to war, because it seems, we will not be able to defeat Arjuna.” Hearing this praise of Arjuna from Dronacharya's mouth, Karna's heart caught fire. When this was not endured by him, he began to speak bitter words to Dronacharya and at the same time he started filling his pride. At this time Ashwatthama deteriorated and replied to all Kauravas and Karna, “Who can be satisfied by taking a kingdom with the gambling of Kshatriya fraud, except for the merciless Duryodhana? Who would like to increase his wealth by getting wealth by deceit like a Fowler? Has taken everything away, has he ever been defeated in a face-to-face battle? In which war did you drag Draupadi into the assembly after defeating the Pandavas?”
“Karna! You exude your valor today. I say, Arjuna is far superior to you in strength and might.”
After this he then turned to Duryodhana and said, “Just as you gambled, dragged Draupadi to the assembly and as you grabbed the kingdom of Indraprastha, face Arjuna now. Proficient in Kshatriya religion, clever, The gambler also comes to show his might to your maternal uncle. No one will go out of you to confront the mighty Arjun. I will not fight him. Yes! If he come to the site, I will definitely face him”
Hearing Ashwatthama's words, everyone became silent. Ashwatthama was so courageous and bold. Bhishma's last words do not fit his character. I do not know on what occasion Bhishma made such a decision.
Once again Ashwatthama was angry on Karna. When Dronacharya was the commander of the army of the Kauravas, seeing the velocity of the Pandavas' army, Duryodhana said to Karna, “Veer Karna! You are my friend. See how badly the Pandavas are killing the Kaurava army. This is the time to introduce your friendship. It is an appropriate opportunity to give, show it by doing something.”
Hearing the words of Duryodhana, Karna started boasting of his might. He started to say, “What will Arjun do in front of me and fight? I can defeat him in a moment. What is his strength that he can face my sharp arrows? I will smuggle him into the battlefield and show my true friendship.”
Kripacharya was listening to these things of Karna. He was feeling very bad. He also reprimanded Karna for this conceit. He also called Karna bad. He even said that if he uses his tongue this time, I will cut with this sword.
Kripacharya was the maternal uncle of Ashwatthama and anyway he was the guru of the Kaurava-Pandavas and was an old man, hence Ashwatthama could not bear his insult. He came in a fit of anger and said to Karna, “Sutputra! You are terrible. You don't want to understand anything in front of you. You praise yourself with your own mouth. Where was your valor sleeping when Arjuna killed Jayadratha? If you are a true warrior, then at that time you would have faced the mighty Arjuna and smashed him and saved the life of Jayadratha.”
Karna got angry after hearing these bitter words. He stood up. Here Ashwatthama also drew a sword and pounced on it. At that moment Duryodhana and Kripacharya came and intervened to see the fight growing. Duryodhana explained to both of them and said, “Warriors! You have all my strength, then why do you want to destroy this power by fighting among themselves?”
Looking at this incident shows that Ashwatthama was very upright. He did not believe in sycophancy. He was not afraid of even abusing Duryodhana, then how can we say that Ashwatthama was a coward, but later on, he did such terror-like acts as thieves that he was swept away by all his bravery and was disgusting and was considered cruel. He killed the five sons of Draupadi while they were sleeping unconscious, but the reason behind why he became so cruel and barbaric vampire. His father was also murdered unjustly.
When Dronacharya heard from Dharmaraja Yudhishthira that Ashwatthama was killed, he gave up his weapons and sat on his chariot for doing yoga. Then Dhrishtdyumna came and cut his head. Dronacharya had received the fruits of his actions because he had also killed unarmed Abhimanyu in the same way, but when Ashwatthama came to know about the unjust slaughter of his father, he was very sad and he pledged to destroy by burnt the Pandavas and Panchalas in anger. Duryodhana encouraged him even more for this. Ashwatthama was also very angry at Yudhishthira because he never expected such a lie from that person. He immediately raised his arm and said, “In lieu of this injustice, the dead bodies of the Pandavas will be found on the earth. I will use Narayanastra, which no one knows except me. By that I will destroy all the pride of the enemy today and Will erase you from this earth forever.”
The next day Ashwatthama used the same Narayanastra. There was an outcry in the Pandavas army. Many valiant warriors fell on the earth after being destroyed. Nobody had the ability to stop that weapon. Here a dispute arose between the Pandavas on the death of Dronacharya. Thus, Arjun and Satyaki did not like the unjust murder of Guru. Both of them started calling Dhrishtadyumna bad. He was deeply mourned for the death of the Guru, even Satyaki went on to kill Dhrishtadyumna with a mace. At that time Bhimsen, after getting the sign of Shri Krishna, went and stopped him somehow because Ashwatthama was coming here killing the Pandava army and there was a growing conflict between them. There was a possibility of this most apocalypse. Somebody even blamed Yudhishthira for killing the Guru, then Dharmaraja came in a rage and said to Dhrishtaduman, “Run away with the army of Panchalas, walk away with the Yadavas of the lineages of Vrishni, Andhak, etc. Sri Krishna will protect himself. You will do it otherwise the soldiers should stop the war. I will be consumed by the brothers in the burning fire. I have killed Acharya by lying, that's why Arjun is angry with me. I would like to make Arjuna happy by giving my life. What less ill-treatment has Acharya done to us? Many warriors killed Abhimanyu alone and killed him in front of Acharya. Draupadi's misfortune also happened in front of them. When Duryodhana got tired, it was Acharya who sent him with an impenetrable armor to attack us. What did he not do to protect Jayadratha? The Pran Acharya of Satyajit Adi Panchalas and his brothers who tried for victory, had taken the Brahmastra. The Kauravas had prevented us from confronting them even when they were taken out unjustly. Have you looked at that?”
Seeing the charge of Yudhishthira, all the warriors came to a standstill. Dharmaraja had rightly said because even though Dronacharya was a teacher, but there was also cruelty in him. Partiality was also in him. As time passed in the charge of Yudhishthira and the Narayanastra left by Ashwatthama became even more intense, then Shri Krishna stopped all the soldiers from fighting and announced, “Hero! This Narainastra is very fierce, no one will be able to face it. All of you keep weapons and get down from your vehicles. By lying on the earth, you will be able to save yourself from the attack of this powerful weapon. And will try to deal with this weapon, it will be even more potent”
All the warriors, obeying Shri Krishna, got down from their vehicles and lay down on the earth, but in Bhimsen's mind Sri Krishna did not sit. He still expressed his bravery, saying, “I will deflate this weapon by firing an arrow, mace. There is no need to be afraid. Today I will show my might.”
He also asked Arjuna to lift Gandiva, but Arjuna replied that he would never use Gandiva against Cow, Brahmin and Narayanastra.
Hearing of Arjuna, Bhimsen got angry and pounced towards Ashwatthama. He hid Ashwatthama's chariot with arrows, but this made Narayanastra even more intense. At that time Arjuna and Shri Krishna came and snatched the weapon from Bhimsen's hand and took it off the chariot. After this, Narayanastra calmed down and thus survived the destruction of the Pandavas. After Narayanastra calmed down, Duryodhana again asked Ashwatthama to use the same weapon, but Ashwatthama did not run him again. After that he fought a fierce battle with the Pandava-army, and in the meantime he used powerful firearms. His idea was to destroy the entire Pandava army, including Arjuna and Krishna, but Arjuna soon used the Brahmastra to calm the weapon, but within a moment, the firearms consumed an Akshohini army of Pandavas. When Ashwatthama did not control anything, he returned from the battlefield disappointed and started condemning archery. On the way he found Maharishi Vyas. He explained to him a lot and said, “Son! Who has the ability to kill Arjuna and Shri Krishna, who you regret so much for your failure in vain?” By explaining Vyas ji, the anguish of Ashwatthama's heart disappeared.
At the end of the Mahabharata war we get Ashwatthama. All the major warriors of the Kaurava dynasty had collapsed, only Duryodhana was left. He was the last commander. The Pandava army was growing rapidly. The Kaurava army started running after being frightened by his attack. Even Duryodhana's feels anxiety. He, too, hid in Dwaipayan lake. Pandav Veer started searching for Duryodhana and when he came to know that he had hidden in the lake, he reached the banks of the lake and started daring Duryodhana as a coward. Duryodhana came out on hearing the challenge, and he had a mace-battle with Bhimsen. In that war, Bhimsen struck a mace on his thigh at the behest of Krishna, due to which he was hurt and fell on the earth, but this work was against the rules of war. Ashwatthama got very angry at seeing this injustice of Bhimsen. The second time he saw the injustice of the Pandavas. Duryodhana lay on the earth groaning with unbearable pain. At that time, Kritavarma and Kripacharya were also present there. Everyone was angry at this injustice. If he did not suffer from Ashwatthama, he raised his hand and vowed that he would take a breath of satisfaction only after destroying the Pandavas.
From there, the three men Ashwatthama, Kripacharya and Kritavarma went towards the forest because the Pandavas feared a face-to-face war when they stayed, for which they did not have enough power. In the solitude of Ashwatthama forest, he started thinking about how to repay the Pandavas in some manner. One was the slaughter of the father and then the unjust slaughter of the king for whom he had dedicated his life, provoking his heart even more. He wanted to destroy the Pandavas in some way, but due to not having so much power, no proper plan could be made. It was night after thinking, but still he could not sleep. When one or two o'clock in the night came out, he saw that an owl came to the same banyan tree under which he lay, and started hunting the sleeping crows. There was uproar among the crows. But the owl killed many crows. Ashwatthama kept watching all this, then a thought came in his mind that if he would come face to face with the Pandavas, then he would not be able to defeat them and they would not suffer any special loss, so the way the owl alone came to sleep. Inattentive crows have been thrown to death, in the same way, if he too goes to kill the Pandavas at night, then his pledge can be fulfilled. Although attacking the sleeping enemy at night was against the rules of war, but Ashwatthama had seen the violation of these rules from the Pandavas. Therefore, he did not worry at all and similarly determined to destroy the Pandavas.
In the morning, he told Kripacharya and Kritavarma his plan, but both of them opposed it. Kripacharya started talking about religion and policy, Ashwatthama got angry on this and started calling both of them bad. In the end, both of them had to obey him. All three came to the Pandavas' camp, firmly in their thoughts. Ashwatthama suddenly broke down on the sleeping Pandava army. He stabbed many to death with his sword. Kripacharya and Kritavarma killed those who ran out of panic. Thus, the three together killed innumerable warriors outside and inside, and then set fire to the camp, causing chaos all around. Somehow Ashwatthama also discovered his father's killer Dhrishtadyumna and strangled him to death. He also killed the five sons of Draupadi at the same time. Ashwatthama's anger was so intense at that time that justice, mercy, religion, etc. were completely lost in his eyes. He was playing barbarism and cruelty. At that time, the five Pandavas, Shri Krishna and Satyaki were not in the camp. When the Kauravas were defeated, when the Pandavas took control of their camp, they got immense wealth, gold, silver, gems, jewelry, clothes, slave-maids, etc., over which they took possession. When everyone started going to sleep in the camp with complete happiness, Krishna told Yudhishthira that we should live outside the camp today with welfare and wishes. That is why they survived. Otherwise, I do not know what the end of the Mahabharata war would be. But even then, as the nightfall was caused by the disturbance of Ashwatthama at this time, it has never happened before. The reason for this was that most of the heroes used to follow the rules of war, only when the evening ended, the Kaurava-Pandavas used to go to each other's camps and talk with full harmony. Then attacking like a thief in this way is a blot on the dignity of valor. The Kshatriyas never feel proud by killing the enemy like this, but Ashwatthama somehow got his revenge and after making a terrible cry, he came to Duryodhana and said, “Duryodhana! I recompensed the injustice done to you by the Pandavas. I have taken fire in their camp and destroyed them. The five Pandavas, Shri Krishna and Satyaki are definitely surviving because they are not in the camp.”
“Duryodhana! Now take satisfaction. Not only human, but animals and birds have also killed in the camp. The Pandavas must be celebrating their victory, but when they listen to this apocalypse, they will forget all their happiness.”
Duryodhana, as if listening to Ashwatthama, woke up from the unconsciousness of unbearable pain. He praised Ashwatthama, saying, “Brave Ashwatthama! Today you have satisfied my soul. You have done the work which not done by any warriors like your father Drona, Bhishma Pitamah, Karna etc. You killed the sinner Dhishtadyumna. Hearing this, my chest has become cold because the same sinner murdered Gurudev unjustly, then you have done a great job by killing Shikhandi with him because Arjuna had brought down the grandfather by facing him. Really, I don't regret my defeat anymore. I go to heaven to be happy. Warriors! That's where we'll all meet.”
Hearing this, Duryodhana's breath stopped. Ashwatthama, on the one hand, started feeling unhappy due to Duryodhana's death, but on the other hand he was experiencing an immense pride today. He thought that his father's deranged soul must have calmed down today because his son has repaid from the unjust.
Here, Draupadi got mad at seeing the dead bodies of her five sons. His lap was dry in one night. Where Duryodhana collapsed in the evening, he was proud of his victory and how far the terrorist came and crushed all his happiness and destroyed it forever. She fell in front of Yudhishthira, with crying. At this time Bhimsen took over her. Draupadi got up in the meantime and said that till the killer of my sons, that sinner and the evil Ashwatthama will not be killed, till then I will not take food and water. There is a great gem in the forehead of that injustice. As long as no one brings it and gives it to me, I will not be able to believe that the wicked has been killed.
Hearing this talk of Draupadi, Bhimsen took up his mace and ran after Ashwatthama. After Bhimsen departed with full charge, Shri Krishna said to Yudhishthira, “Dharmaraja! One must take measures to protect Bhimsen as Ashwatthama possesses the Brahmashir weapon, which can destroy the entire earth in a moment. Guru Dronacharya had given this weapon to his beloved disciple Arjuna, but when Ashwatthama came to know about it, he was unhappy and asked the father to teach him that weapon. Dronacharya did not believe in his son because he knew that this cruel instinctive Ashwatthama could misuse the weapon anywhere. That is why he did not teach him to use it earlier, but he had to teach it when he moved more. Even then he had promised him that he would not misuse it. He would use it only when there was a particular crisis. Ashwatthama assured him and learned. Now he has the biggest fear of that because Ashwatthama does not have much idea of what is right and unfair, maybe he will be devastated if he sits in a rage and uses the Brahmashir weapon. Let me tell you about his wretchedness. Once he came to Dwarka and said to me, “Father has learned the Brahmashir weapon from Maharishi Agastya that I have received. Take it from me and give me your Sudarshan Chakra in return.”
To this I replied, “I do not need your Brahmashir weapon. Take whatever you need from my bow, power, mace and chakra.” Sudarshan Chakra had a thousand iron saws, so Ashwatthama could not lift it even after applying his full power. This left him completely depressed. He is very cruel and merciless by nature and the feelings of religion and justice have no place in his heart, so I say that it is necessary to protect Bhimsen in this situation.”
Yudhishthira and Arjuna accepted Shri Krishna, and both walked with them in chariots. He wanted to go and return Bhima, but Bhima was growing at the speed of the wind. He reached the banks of the Ganga. There Ashwatthama was, sitting next to Vyas ji among the sages. Seeing him, Bhimsen shot an arrow on the bow. At the same time Arjuna, Yudhishthira and Krishna also reached there. Ashwatthama understood that they had come together to kill him, so coming in a rage together, he uprooted a darbha from nearby and made a weapon by using prayer on it. While leaving, he commanded the weapon that no Pandavas should survive. The fierce fire broke out as soon as that weapon was released. It seemed as if it would burn the three worlds and consume them in a moment.
Seeing this, Krishna pointed to Arjuna because he could save everyone's life from this crisis. Guru Dronacharya even taught this weapon to Arjuna. Then Arjuna jumped onto the ground with his Gandiva bow and used Brahmashir weapon to calm down the weapon. Seeing the fiery flames blazing from both sides, there was chaos. When Arjuna saw the two maharishis standing in the middle, he immediately pacified his weapon and with this he prayed forgiveness but said, “Oh God, I have silenced my weapon in your honor, but if the weapon of Ashwatthama is not calm, then our Holocaust is near. Now tell me, what should we do?” Ashwatthama knew how to operate the weapon, but he did not know the method of returning it. He also said to Vyas ji, “O Mahamuni! I will not return the weapon. I want to see the Holocaust of the Pandavas. They are very unjust, vicious and sinners.”
Hearing Ashwatthama's passionate words, Vyasji explained a lot to him and said, “Don't be foolish, Ashwatthama. See, Arjuna never wished to take your life. He has calmed his arms, so all the faint feeling of his heart remove and make your weapon cool. Why do you want the Holocaust of the Pandavas? Do you not know that in which state the Brahmashir weapon is made useless by the divine weapon? There does not rain for eleven years. That is why Arjuna, despite being able, does not destroy your weapon. Thinking of the welfare of all, you should calm your weapon and give the gem in your head to Yudhishthira.”
On this Ashwatthama said, “O Maharishi, this gem is unique in the world. This type of gem cannot be found anywhere. If it is possessed by anyone, there is no suffering of weapons, disease, hunger, thirst etc. Gods, demons, No one harasses the serpent and the thief, etc. I can never violate your orders, this is my gem, if you wish, give it to Yudhishthira, but this powerful weapon of mine will go to the womb of Uttara. I want to destroy the clan of pandavas, including the root.”
Vyas ji fell silent on hearing this cruel determination of Ashwatthama, but Shri Krishna said, “Ashwatthama, show your divine weapon with all its might. The child of the womb will be born as dead, but still he will live and rule for sixty years. And will carry forward the dynasty of the Pandavas. He will born after the death of the Kaurava dynasty, so he will be named as Parikshit. Kripacharya will teach him the Dhanurveda. But Ashwatthama! You will have to pay the full penalty for this cruelty and inhumanity. For three thousand years you will have to wander alone in a desolate country. No one will speak to you. Blood will smell from your body. You will get leprosy and many kinds of diseases, due to which your life will continue to be a curse.”
Shri Krishna was unwavering. This punishment was given to Ashwatthama by Daiva. The gem is snatched away from it. Draupadi was very angry at Ashthama. She wants him to avenge the slaughter of his sons and similarly Bhimsen wants to kill him in full rage, but Yudhishthira leaves him with compassion, and he goes towards the forest, saddened by his fate. It is said that he had immortality, so even today, there is a belief that Ashwatthama comes inside the city by assuming the form of a humble beggar, but no one recognizes him.
In this way, Ashwatthama's life became a curse forever. This was the result of his cruelty. In the end, it can be said that perhaps none of the characters of Mahabharata did as Ashwatthama did by killing the five sons of Draupadi. This was a very despicable abomination, so no matter how great a warrior Ashwatthama was and was proficient in archery. But the feeling of respect in the heart of man does not awaken him. It has to be said that he was a type of male vampire, who could act completely vile and blind in the fire of vengeance. Inadvertent at night and his attack on unarmed soldiers, destroys all the dignity of the Mahabharata war. Tales go on till today about that huge war, that they were loyal warriors who fought throughout the day and came to each other's camps and hugged each other at the end of the evening. This was the difference between today's war and that war of Mahabharata. There was less deceit and hypocrisy, but Ashwatthama attacked like a thief at night with deceit and destroyed that dignity. Indeed, he was cruel and merciless like an owl.
Share This Page On...