Aśvatthāmā Episode

Aśvatthāmā was the son of Droṇācārya. After the Kurukshetra war he killed the five sleeping sons of Draupadī in the Pāṇḍava camp. This account retells what followed: the brahmāstra (a weapon of supreme power) aimed at Uttarā’s womb, his capture by Arjuna, and the choice made at Draupadī’s plea.

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa tells this in its first skanda, chapters 7 and 8.

The night attack

The Kurukshetra war ended with the death of Duryodhana. Aśvatthāmā was the son of Droṇācārya, who had himself been killed in the war. He was full of grief and rage. He had not been able to avenge his father or his master’s defeat in open battle, so he entered the Pāṇḍava camp at night.

There he killed the five sleeping sons of Draupadī, the upapāṇḍavas. He may have taken them in the dark for the Pāṇḍavas themselves, or he may simply have wanted to destroy everything connected with the Pāṇḍavas.

Draupadī woke to find all five sons dead. Her grief was total. In her anguish she appealed to Arjuna and asked for justice. Arjuna vowed to bring Aśvatthāmā to her, alive or dead. (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 1st Skanda, Chapter 7)

The pursuit and the brahmāstras

Arjuna went after Aśvatthāmā. Aśvatthāmā saw that he could not outrun Arjuna. His horses were worn out and no one could protect him. In desperation he turned and loosed his brahmāstra. He knew only how to call it up, not how to take it back (pratyāhāra). He aimed it, by his own declared purpose, to destroy the whole Pāṇḍava line by burning out the womb of Uttarā, where the last heir was growing. That heir was the future Parīkshit.

Kṛshṇa saw this and told Arjuna:

“Meet the brahmāstra with a brahmāstra. You alone know how to withdraw both.”

Arjuna sipped water in ācamana (the rite of purification) and walked around Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. He steadied his mind and loosed his own brahmāstra. When the two weapons of supreme energy met, the three worlds shook. The heat was unbearable and the sky blazed. Through Kṛshṇa’s gaze and inner guidance, Arjuna drew back both brahmāstras at the same time, and the world was saved. (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 1st Skanda, Chapter 8)

The capture

Arjuna then captured Aśvatthāmā. He bound him, dragged him, and brought him before Draupadī and the gathered Pāṇḍavas. Aśvatthāmā was dishevelled and humbled. His power was spent and his pride was broken.

Kṛshṇa spoke:

“An ātatāyin, one who kills people in their sleep, deserves death. Slay him.”

This was the counsel of strict dharma. But Arjuna was pulled another way. This was the son of his teacher Droṇācārya. He had grown up with Aśvatthāmā. He could not bring himself to kill him. He stood in silence, holding the bound prisoner. (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 1st Skanda, Chapter 7)

Draupadī’s mercy

Draupadī saw Aśvatthāmā brought before her, the man who had caused her sons’ deaths. She did not ask for his blood. She spoke words that the Bhāgavatam gives as the highest dharma of a woman:

“He is a brāhmaṇa. He is Droṇācārya’s son, the son of our teacher. Release him. What good would his death do? His mother Kṛpī would weep as I am weeping. I do not wish upon any mother the grief I carry. A truly virtuous woman does not seek for others the suffering she herself endures.”

She did not deny the wrong he had done. But she held that Arjuna’s having captured him and brought him to her feet was punishment enough, for honour’s sake. (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 1st Skanda, Chapter 7)

The decision

Yudhishṭhira, Nakula, Sahadeva and Draupadī all agreed. An ātatāyin deserves death in principle, but here a brāhmaṇa’s son stood before them.

Arjuna found a way that honoured both dharmas. He took from Aśvatthāmā the crest-jewel, the maṇi that was the source of his power and his warrior’s identity. He shaved the hair from his head, the mark of dishonour for a warrior. And he sent him out of the camp. His body was left alive, in respect for the memory of Guru Droṇa and for Draupadī’s mercy.

Aśvatthāmā walked away, stripped, shamed and driven out. The Bhāgavatam records no further pursuit. (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 1st Skanda, Chapter 7)

Sources

• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 1st Skanda, Chapter 7
• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 1st Skanda, Chapter 8