In the previous episode, we had witnessed Ashwatthama advancing further towards the Paandavas’ tent areas during the middle of the night. He first had to encounter the “Dharma-Devata”, who was protecting the Paandava brothers along with their families as they’re fast asleep. As Ashwatthama did not understand the trick of how to neutralize this demon-like being, he prays to Bhagawan Shiva by performing an intense “Tapas” instantly. Impressed by Ashwatthama’s short but intense “Tapas”, Bhagawan Shiva appears in front of him and gifts a divine sword, which would enable him to kill everyone. Gifting this, Bhagawan Shiva says thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! I’m Bhagawan Rudra! My sole job is to destroy all creation! Till now I’ve not touched the Paandava brothers because of Bhagawan Krishna’s divine “Sankalpa”. However, now the time has come for the complete destruction and somewhere or the other, I’ve to do my job assigned to me! Hence, Oh Ashwatthama! You may use this sword and go about executing your agenda. I’m entering inside this sword and this is going to be even more powerful in your hands!”
Saying thus, Bhagawan Shiva enters into the sword and disappears from there. Ashwatthama now becomes extremely powerful and as Bhagawan Shiva Himself has given a thumbs-up to his mission, he doesn’t need to consult with anyone anymore. Thus, Ashwatthama unleashes the first attack on the “Dharma-Devata”, and unable to withstand the powerful sword, “Dharma-Devata” gets killed. Next, Ashwatthama enters into the tent of Drishtadhyumna and Shikhandi, wherein both of them are happily sleeping! The first target for Ashwatthama, for obvious reasons is Drishtadhyumna. All of us might remember that it was Drishtadhyumna who had chopped off Guru Dhronachaarya’s head when he was without any weapon in the battlefield. Ashwatthama has this fresh in his mind as he comes closer to Drishtadhyumna. Now, even before Drishtadhyumna realizes what is happening around him, Ashwatthama tightly presses his head onto his pillow and makes him struggle for breath! Releasing himself from Ashwatthama’s clutches after a few seconds, Drishtadhyumna looks around in his half sleep to find out what is happening, and to his utter shock and dismay, finds Ashwattama raging with anger near him! Drishtadhyumna sees Ashwatthama with a powerful sword, and upon seeing this, Drishtadhyumna knows that there’s no way that he can escape from Ashwatthama now! There’s no chance for him to get up from bed to seize a weapon to fight with Ashwatthama.
As this happens, Ashwatthama does not give any time for Drishtadhyumna to think anything, and he gives lusty blows onto Drishtadhyumna’s head! Unable to bear the pain of Ashwatthama’s blows, Drishtadhyumna faints for a moment, however, he gets up immediately. Drishtadhyumna requests Ashwatthama thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! I know that I’m not going to survive your onslaught now! I’m sure you might be knowing that whatever you’re doing right now is completely against “Raaja-Dharma” and “Yuddha-Neeti”. You’re a big coward! You do not have the guts to face me on the battlefield, but you’re having this audacity to do such a cowardly act of killing me during the night! Oh Ashwatthama! Anyway you’re going to kill me – Kill me with an “Asthram”, so that I will be able to attain “Veera-Svargam” after my demise!”
As Drishtadhyumna requests thus, Ashwatthama’s anger mounts even more! He replies thus, “Oh Drishtadhyumna! Look who is talking about cowardliness! On that fateful day, you lied to my father that I’m dead and you chopped off his head when he was without a weapon in his hand, didn’t you? You had that cowardliness when you weren’t able to withstand my father on the battlefield, and now you’re talking about cowardliness in me? I’ve come here to seek revenge for that heinous crime that you committed to my father. An act of cowardliness should be avenged by another act of cowardliness only. This is my “Dharma”! Moreover, for the heinous act that you’ve performed to my father, you do not deserve to attain “Veera-Svarga”, and hence, I do not want to waste any of my “Asthrams” on worthless people like you! For all that you’ve done, you deserve to be brutally murdered!”
Saying thus, Ashwatthama pulls out his powerful sword in which Bhagawan Shiva is residing. He mercilessly chops off Drishtadhyumna’s head, by strangling his neck in such a way that Shikhandi (who is sleeping nearby) doesn’t even have a clue of what’s happening nearby! Unable to bear the powerful sword, Drishtadhyumna falls on the ground, dead! Upon doing this, Ashwatthama successfully avenges Drishtadhyumna’s heinous act of murdering his father, Guru Dhronachaarya! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and we shall continue with what Ashwatthama is going to do next, in the next episode! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 