In the previous episode, we had witnessed Ashwatthama taking a decisive pledge in front of a dying Duryodhana. Ashwatthama resolves to kill all the five Paandava brothers overnight, even though it is gross “Adharma”. More than just executing Duryodhana’s last wish, Ashwatthama is simmering with anger over the unethical demise of his father, Guru Dhronachaarya, who was earlier tricked into a precarious situation before being beheaded by Drishtadhyumna. Thus, as Duryodhana looks on, Ashwatthama roars aloud with his steady and a savage resolution of putting the Paandava brothers to death, when they are fast asleep during the night. Ashwatthama quickly moves out from the battlefield to prepare himself for the assault.
With this, now we move into the next “Parva” called “Soutthika Parva”. This “Parva” is extremely significant as Ashwatthama is going to unleash his ghastly act of trying to kill people during the middle of the night. Thus, as mentioned earlier, Ashwatthama is getting ready for the assault, and the Paandava brothers are celebrating the victory over Duryodhana and Co. on one end of the tent area. Meanwhile, on the other side, Sage Kripachaarya is mooting Duryodhana to officially appoint Ashwatthama as the next “Senapati” of the Kaurava army. This happens when Ashwatthama takes the “Pratignya” to kill the Paandava brothers at night. Thus, with his trembling hands, Duryodhana sprinkles water on Ashwatthama’s head and officially announces him as the “Senapati”. As he does so, Duryodhana says thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! I know that you are a man who will do anything for me. You are also a “Chiranjeevi” and death cannot touch you. I trust you more than anybody else at this moment. Oh Ashwatthama! I liked the way you have taken this decisive “Pratignya” of killing Yudishtra & Co. by tonight. I shall keep myself alive till tonight to listen to the good news that Yudishtra is no more! Only after this, I will die! Oh Ashwatthama! Please go immediately and continue the battle and thereby ensure that the Paandava brothers are depleted completely!”
Thus, the trio of Sage Kripachaarya, Krita Varma and Ashwatthama leave from the place where Duryodhana is lying down and go a certain distance to strategize their next move. As the sunset happens and as everything is dark everywhere, Ashwatthama emerges from his whereabouts along with the other two. All the three of them march their way towards the tents wherein the Paandavas are resting. These tents are in the southern direction from the main Kurukshetra battlefield. As all of them are sitting thus, Sage Kripachaarya says to Ashwatthama – “Oh Ashwatthama! Where are you going now? It is going to be night time and how are we going to fight a war with them at this time? We’ve to wait till the daybreak to start the battle, isn’t it? Hence, let us wait and rest under this tree for the night and then let us get ready for tomorrow!”
Now this is a very important moment here – Till this moment, Sage Kripachaarya is not aware that Ashwatthama is having this plan to murder the Paandava brothers overnight! Sage Kripachaarya is thinking that as Duryodhana has officially appointed Ashwatthama as the “Senapati”, the war will take place as usual during the nineteenth day. However, what is going to conspire is something grossly different from what Sage Kripachaarya is thinking here! As Sage Kripachaarya says thus, Ashwatthama doesn’t talk back anything. He is lost in his thoughts and into his own world! Thus, as it gets late into the night, Sage Kripachaarya and Krita Varma are extremely tired and they go to bed on the floor itself! Both are seniors and are aged as well. Hence, they are not able to withstand the tiredness and are off to sleep. However, Ashwatthama is not sleeping. He is wide awake and thinking of several things in his mind! We’ve seen during the “Prajaakara Parva” earlier that only three types of people in this world will not get sleep at night properly – Firstly the one who has stolen others’ property. Secondly, a person who is addicted to “Kaamam” (Desire) and the third person is the one who is overcome by “Krodham” (Anger). Ashwatthama now falls into the third category as he is simmering with anger over the loss of his father! He has made a secretive plan to kill the Paandava brothers overnight somehow or the other!
So for today, let us understand up to this point, wherein Ashwatthama is all set to unleash his fury upon the Paandava brothers. Will he succeed in his pursuit? Or, will there be one more twist in the proceedings? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 