In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bheemasena getting fired up after Draupati’s fresh salvo against Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna. Upon seeing her sons dead in front of her, Draupati couldn’t hold herself back. She vents all her frustration towards Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna by saying that, in the name of “Dharma”, all of them are inactive. In return, instead of getting fired up, Yudishtra once again resorts to calming her down by saying that if people are dying, it is due to their “Karma”, and their purpose in this world is fulfilled. As Yudishtra talks about all these “Vedantic” philosophies, Draupati is in no position to listen to such narratives. She demands immediate action wherein Ashwatthama should be killed, and his small bell hanging on top of his “Kireetam” should be brought in front of her as an evidence of Ashwatthama being killed! Unable to bear the pain of losing her children, Draupati cries out loud in front of everyone, which flares up Bheemasena! He immediately calls his charioteer and sets off on his horse with all possible weapons that he could muster! Upon seeing Bheemasena getting charged up, Bhagawan Krishna gets worried. He explains to Arjuna and the others that Ashwatthama is not an easy enemy to handle and Bheemasena doesn’t have it in him to win over Ashwatthama!
Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna narrates His own experience with Ashwatthama in the past and how He Himself had to suffer in Ashwatthama’s dreaded hands! There is a powerful and lethal weapon called “Brahma-Shiras”. Out of extreme love and affection towards Arjuna, Guru Dhronachaarya teaches the “Mantras” relevant to this “Brahma-Shiras” weapon secretly to Arjuna. As Guru Dhronachaarya does so, Ashwatthama finds this out secretly by hiding himself somewhere behind the walls to understand that such a thing is happening! After that day’s classes were over, Ashwatthama rushed towards his father, Guru Dhronachaarya. He asks thus, “Oh father! What stupid thing are you doing? You’re treating your disciple more closely than your own son! Why are you creating such a difference? In what way am I not deserving the “Mantras” of the “Brahma-Shiras”? Why aren’t you teaching it to me, and what makes you bypass me and teach it to Arjuna secretly?” For this, Guru Dhronachaarya replied back thus, “Oh my son Ashwatthama! I understand your point. However, there are certain rules and regulations, along with some qualifications that are required to learn this “Brahma-Shiras”. It is not as easy as you think. I gave it to Arjuna because he is the most deserving person to have it. To obtain it, one should be a pure “Brahmachaari”, and he should have complete control over all his sense organs. Oh Ashwatthama! You are not up to the mark as yet, and hence, I cannot give this to you. Maybe in future if you’re living up to the required qualifications and expectations, I shall teach it to you!”
As Guru Dhronachaarya replies thus, Ashwatthama was not satisfied! He replies back to his father with a lot of anger thus, “Oh father! Is this the duty that you are performing towards your son? You are partial towards your own son! How does this even account to being a good father or a good teacher?” As Ashwatthama is adamant and is trying to corner Guru Dhronachaarya, options are running out! With a lot of reluctance and with a lot of fear of what kind of disaster is going to unfold in the future, Guru Dhronachaarya teaches Ashwatthama the “Mantras” pertaining to the powerful “Brahma-Shiras”. Hence, narrating this incident, Bhagawan Krishna warns that if Ashwatthama uses that “Brahma-Shiras” weapon, none of the Pandava brothers are going to be alive. We never know when Ashwatthama would use it. He can go to any extent to do anything! He doesn’t understand what “Yuddha-Neeti” is. Just because he has a weapon in hand, he will employ it as per his convenience and not as per the ‘Yuddha-Neeti”.
Narrating this, Bhagawan Krishna continues further – “Oh Arjuna! Ashwatthama once came to me also. He wanted to somehow snatch my divine “Chakra-Aayudham” from me! He started threatening me that if I do not give him my “Chakra-Aayudham”, he would fire the “Brahma-Shiras” weapon and obtain it forcefully from me! Hence, Oh Draupati! O Arjuna! Ashwatthama is not an easy enemy to tackle as you think! We need to strategize before taking the attack into his own backyard! Now that Bheemasena has already gone in pursuit of Ashwatthama, I’m seriously worried whether he will come back alive or not!” Thus, Bhagawan Krishna expresses His concern and for today, let us understand up to this point. We shall continue with this discussion further in the next episode! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 