Episode # 1214 – Drishtadhyumna’s charioteer conveys the bad news to Yudishtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Duryodhana continuing to rant even when he was on the deathbed. Ashwatthama returns back to Duryodhana after finishing his assault on the Paandava camp wherein he has killed several frontline warriors like Drishtadhyumna, Shikhandi, Upa-Paandavas, etc. while they were fast asleep. Appreciating Ashwatthama’s “smart action”, Duryodhana opines that he had made a great mistake of not making Ashwatthama as the “Senapati” on Day One itself – Because, if this action would have been executed on that day, this war wouldn’t have been fought at all for the next eighteen days! However, better late than never, Duryodhana feels happy and satisfied that Yudishtra is left all alone in his pursuit of life from here on! He feels that he has satisfied his revenge upon Yudishtra for destroying his entire Kaurava clan. Just like how Duryodhana is alone, battling for his life, Yudishtra is also now left alone to fend for himself! This gives Duryodhana immense satisfaction, and with this, he declares that the winner of this Kurukshetra war is none other than Duryodhana himself! 

As Duryodhana says thus, Ashwatthama consoles Duryodhana and with this, all the three of them – Ashwatthama, Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma move out of this place. Duryodhana also breathes his last! As Duryodhana was almost dead, he bids farewell to Ashwatthama with the hope that he would meet Ashwatthama at the “Svarga Lokham” at an appropriate time. As Duryodhana breathes his last, Ashwatthama makes his way towards the banks of River Bhaageerati (River Ganga). On the other side, as Sanjaya is narrating this to King Dhritarashtra, Sanjaya says thus, “Oh King! Your son Duryodhana has died! He is no more now! With this, the story comes to an end, and also, the divine eyes that Sage Vyaasa had given me, have been revoked! I do not have that divine vision henceforth to see what is happening at Kurukshetra! Moving forward, if we’ve to know what is happening at Kurukshetra, we’ve to go there in person to find out. I’ve lost the power to visualize and convey whatever was happening there till now, but it has come to an end!” 

As Sanjaya declares thus, we come to the end of the first “Upa-Parva” under the “Soutthuka Parva”. Next, we’re going to witness the “Upa-Parva” called “Isheeka Parva”. The word “Isheekam” in Sanskrit means a small thread or a “Dharba”. This “Isheeka Parva” is going to talk about Ashwatthama using a small thread to employ the powerful “Brahma-Asthram”, in a bid to destroy Arjuna! We might have witnessed till the previous paragraph that the rivalry between the two camps is over. However, it is not! Ashwatthama is still simmering with anger and frustration! Even though he killed several people including Drishtadhyumna in his sleep, Ashwatthama is not going to be satisfied! He is planning to unleash horror once again. So how is he going to do this? This is what we’re going to see in this “Isheeka-Parva”. 

Moving into the “Isheeka Parva” thus, the story commences at a point wherein Drishtadhyumna’s charioteer understands that Drishtadhyumna and several others were killed overnight by Ashwatthama! Stunned by this gross “Adharmic” act from Ashwatthama, the charioteer runs towards the tents where Yudishtra & Co. are sleeping. It is to be remembered that Ashwatthama did not come to this place during the night. He only came to those tents where the Upa-Pandavas and the others were sleeping, and since there was a loud sound of panic, he had to escape swiftly from there itself, without coming towards Yudishtra. We’ve also seen till this point. Now, unable to understand what is going on, Yudishtra and his brothers look around them to gauge the situation. It is during this time, Drishtadhyumna’s charioteer is coming to Yudishtra and conveying the news. 

As Yudishtra hears the story from Drishtadhyumna’s charioteer, he faints instantly on to the ground! Grief engulfs Yudishtra to such an extent that he’s unable to speak another word from his mouth! He cries profusely, rolling on the ground, even as Bhagawan Krishna and the others look on! All of them including Bhagawan Krishna are in shock! Nobody expected this sort of an “Adharma” to unfold, and that too so quickly within the split of a second! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1213 – “We are the winners of the Kurukshetra war!” – Duryodhana proclaims!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very important conversation that is going on between Sanjaya and King Dhritarashtra. This happens at a time when Ashwatthama has destroyed the Upa-Pandavas, Drishtadhyumna, Shikhandi, etc. at night as everyone was fast asleep. Upon coming to know of what has happened, King Dhritarashtra yet again asks a foolish question to Sanjaya that why didn’t Ashwatthama do this on Day One itself and if such a thing would have happened, Duryodhana would have been completely unharmed! For this, Sanjaya blasts King Dhritarashtra for this question itself. Sanjaya explains that had Ashwatthama tried such an act on Day One, he would have been destroyed then and there by Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna. Moreover, all of them were fresh on Day One, with Bhishmachaarya leading the way. Would Bhishmachaarya, a person who is known for his value systems and “Raaja-Dharma” allow such a heinous crime to happen in front of his eyes and under his leadership? Saying thus, Sanjaya explains the mindset of Ashwatthama here – He has done such a criminal act because of the fear that he has for Arjuna, Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna. Had he really possessed the guts, he should have fought them on the nineteenth day on the battlefield, rather than resorting to such an unethical act! 

Saying thus, Sanjaya lambasts King Dhritarashtra for his stupid reasoning, and in the meanwhile, Ashwatthama goes back along with Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma to the place where Duryodhana is still battling his life. We’ve earlier seen that Duryodhana is fatally injured and there’s no way he can come back to his normalcy from here on. Ashwatthama meets Duryodhana once again and says thus, “Oh Duryodhana! You had sent me on a mission to wreak havoc on the Paandava side, and I’ve kept up your words! I’ve destroyed a huge number of people – Drishtadhyumna, Shikhandi, the Upa-Pandavas, etc. Around 20-25 people have been brutally killed! Oh Duryodhana! I came here to convey this happy news to you! But Duryodhana! The only thing that is saddening me is this – While we share this happy news, you are not going to be alive for long. If you are not there, what are we going to do in this world? We would be orphaned! We’ve fought this entire war together for the past eighteen days, for your sake only. We wanted to see you as our king. Now if the king himself is no more, whom are we going to live for in this world?”

Saying thus, Ashwatthama continues further – “Oh Duryodhana! The person who was behind my father’s unethical killing – Drishtadhyumna – I murdered him brutally while he was fast asleep! The person who was behind our great Bhishmachaarya’s killing – Shikhandi – I murdered him as well! Moreover, I killed all the Upa-Pandavas, which means that the entire next generation of Yudishtra and Co. are completely wiped out! This will be a huge shocker for Yudishtra, from which he will never be able to come out for the rest of his life!” As Ashwatthama says this with a lot of fury and satisfaction, Duryodhana has a smile on his face! He replies to Ashwatthama thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! Now I feel bad for not making you the “Senapati” on Day One itself! You’ve achieved today, what neither Bhishmachaarya, Guru Dhronachaarya or my dear friend Karna could achieve! Of course, all of them fought valiantly, but they should have thought like how you did in a smart way! Today I’m extremely happy and when you said that Yudishtra would never be able to come out of this rude shock and grief, my heart pounds very happily! Henceforth, I wouldn’t bother if I’m alive or dead in this world. I’m declaring today – We have won this war against Yudishtra! He is reduced to rubbles, and I’m extremely happy upon hearing this great news from you! Oh Ashwatthama! Do not worry about me henceforth! We shall definitely meet at the “Svarga-Lokha” sometime very soon!” 

Saying thus, Duryodhana expresses his pleasure upon hearing that Yudishtra is under great suffering! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and we shall continue this discussion further in the next episode to witness what Ashwatthama is going to do next! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1212 – “You’ve still not mended your attitude!” – Sanjaya slams King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed a huge chaos happening amidst the Pandava camp, wherein Ashwatthama had just unleashed a huge horror. As this is going on, meanwhile, Sanjaya is narrating all these instances to King Dhritarashtra at Hastinapura. As King Dhritarashtra comes to know of what has happened on the eighteenth night, he immediately quips to Sanjaya that what was stopping Ashwatthama from doing this on Day One of the war itself! Without thinking of any consequence of asking such a question, King Dhritarashtra once again exposes his double standards in front of Sanjaya. This very question from King Dhritarashtra clearly shows how biassed he was all these years towards Yudishtra & Co. and how he wanted only his son Duryodhana to prosper every time! 

As Sanjaya listens to this question from King Dhritarashtra, he doesn’t say anything for a moment! It is not that Sanjaya is shocked – He knows King Dhritarashtra’s thought process right from the early years, however, Sanjaya is aggrieved of the fact that even after so many disasters have unfolded, King Dhritarashtra is again and again failing to understand “Dharma” and is unwilling to be on the side of it. Mustering up his emotions a bit, Sanjaya now talks to King Dhritarashtra thus, “Oh Raajan (King)! You’ve asked a very important question here – Now let me try and answer this. If at all Ashwatthama would have tried something unethical like this on Day One, he wouldn’t have even survived for a minute! On Day One, Yudishtra and everyone were fresh and bubbling with energy to fight the war. All of them were at their peak of anger upon Duryodhana and they were waiting for this opportunity to give it back to him. Now, instead of fighting the war, if Ashwatthama would have done such a ghastly thing, Arjuna and Bheemasena would have strangled him to death then and there! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Let me tell you one thing clearly – If Ashwatthama fights a direct war with the Pandava brothers, he will not be able to win over them for sure! It is only because of this fear that he has within himself, Ashwatthama has done such an “Adharmic” act of killing people in sleep! Moreover, Oh King Dhritarashtra! Let me tell you one more thing – At the start of the war, all the seniors like Bhishmachaarya, Guru Dhronachaarya, Karna, etc. were alive and active. Do you think any of them would have endorsed such a cowardly act? At the beginning of the war, Bhishmachaarya laid down clear rules and regulations before the war commenced. Ashwatthama was also there as part of that meeting. After Bhishmachaarya has defined everything so clearly, will Ashwatthama have the guts to go against his words? Now that none of them are alive, Ashwatthama is acting this way! Moreover, now after eighteen days of fighting, all of them are tired and exhausted. Also, not many people are left! The damage on both sides is extremely heavy. Given this situation, Ashwatthama wanted to use people’s inability and tiredness to his advantage and orchestrated such a heinous crime. Hence, Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please shun this thought that Ashwatthama has done something great! It is purely an act of cowardliness! He has done this out of fear for Yudishtra & Co. on the battlefield. If he really had the guts of fighting the Pandava brothers and seeking revenge on them in the name of his father’s demise, he should have called them for a battle on the nineteenth day! Ashwatthama knows very well that with Bhagawan Krishna’s divine presence, the Pandava brothers are invincible! Hence, the whole episode of this mass murder will go down in history as one of the most deadliest and cowardly acts of a warrior! Now you will see Ashwatthama reaping the consequences of what he has done and that day is not far off!”

Saying thus, Sanjaya continues thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! You’re still not realizing the amount of damage that your bad intentions are creating to your own people! Firstly, your entire “Vamsam” (Generation) is destroyed completely, and you are slowly losing significance amongst the people who are remaining after this ghastly war! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please try and mend your ways atleast now!” As Sanjaya says thus, he has tears in his eyes. He too becomes emotional upon seeing the fact that King Dhritarashtra is still unrelenting from his stance! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue with this discussion in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1211 – “Why didn’t Ashwatthama do this on Day One itself?” King Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Ashwatthama on a rampage mode, killing anyone and everyone who was in his sight. It all started with Drishtadhyumna, followed by Shikhandi and all the five Upa-Pandava brothers! As the Upa-Pandava brothers started waking up to the horror unleashed by Ashwatthama, they tried to escape out of their tents, only to be stopped by Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Verma who were guarding outside! Ashwatthama brutally murders all the five of them and now tries to escape out of the tent area! All the three – Ashwatthama, along with Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Verma manage to drive their way outside in the chariot, leaving a whole trail of sorrow amidst the Pandava camp! By the time the others wake up to see what has happened, the tragedy has already unfolded! As all of them are fast asleep during the middle of the night, it takes time for people to come back to their senses to realize the extent to which the tragedy has struck them! 

Meanwhile, as people come to terms with what has happened, all the ladies in the nearby tents come out and start mourning the loss of all their loved ones! Around 10-15 people have been brutally murdered by Ashwatthama, and all the wives and mothers of these people cry out loud! Upon hearing this in the middle of the night, Yudishtra & Co. suddenly wake up and rush to see what has happened! They are in shock and disbelief! All of them mourn over what has happened, and since everything happened within a split of a moment, nobody realizes who has done this! The women in the camp mourn out loud thus, “Oh! What a tragedy! This heinous act of killing people during their sleep is totally against the “Yuddha-Neethi” and who has committed this crime? Had Arjuna or Bheemasena been in the vicinity, such a tragedy wouldn’t have unfolded, isn’t it? We’ve lost all our sons and husbands to this brutal crime! This should not go unchecked!”

As this happens on the Kurukshetra battlefield, Sanjaya on the other side (At Hastinapura), is narrating all these instances to King Dhritarashtra. Sanjaya says thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Look at Ashwatthama’s cowardliness! He doesn’t have the guts to fight Yudishtra or Bheemasena or Arjuna on the battlefield, but he has this criminal attitude of going against the “Yuddha-Neeti” to unleash horror on the other side! He has killed several people during sleep, and has happily escaped from that place as if nothing has happened!” As Sanjaya says thus, ideally as an administrator / leader, King Dhritarashtra should have been raging with anger because such heinous crimes are happening in his kingdom, isn’t it? However, on the contrary, King Dhritarashtra asks a very unique question to Sanjaya thus, “Oh Sanjaya! I understand that Ashwatthama has killed several people during the middle of the night as everyone were fast asleep! He did it on the eighteenth day, didn’t he? What was stopping Ashwatthama to do this on the very first day before the war began at Kurukshetra? Had Ashwatthama killed everyone like this in their sleep, this war wouldn’t have taken place at all, isn’t it? My son Duryodhana would have been alive, fit and fine by this time, isn’t it? Why didn’t Ashwatthama think of this earlier?” 

From this question, we can clearly see King Dhritarashtra’s intent – Maybe from the outside, he might be blind by nature and might appear as if he is all at sea, unable to make decisions! However, if we analyze King Dhritarashtra and his attitude through this question, we can clearly understand that he is completely biassed towards his son Duryodhana – In a way that King Dhritarashtra would go to any extent to defend Duryodhana and his actions! Here, we can clearly see that King Dhritarashtra wanted Yudishtra & Co. to have a painful death, at the expense of Duryodhana’s ego and wish, which is completely against the “Raaja-Dharma”! We’ve witnessed in our earlier episodes of this Mahabharata project that the Hastinapura kingdom originally remained with King Paandu (Yudishtra’s father) and should have rightly gone to Yudishtra only. However, because King Paandu was sick and had a premature death, the kingdom came to Dhritarashtra, who is his younger brother. At that time, the Paandava brothers were children and because of this sole reason, King Dhritarashtra had to succeed to the throne! Thus, the Hastinapura kingdom itself is not duly King Dhritarashtra’s! It should be Yudishtra’s by every means! However, what is happening here is just the opposite – King Dhritarashtra wants to go hook or crook to kill Yudishtra and give the throne to Duryodhana! 

So for today, let us understand up to this point, and in the next episode, we shall witness what Sanjaya has to reply to this crooked question of King Dhritarashtra! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1210 – Ashwatthama murders Shikhandi and the Upa-Pandavas!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very critical situation unfolding on the Paandava side, wherein Ashwatthama is on a mad rage in the middle of the night. As everyone is asleep, Ashwatthama enters into the Paandava camp, with a savage resolution of doing cold-blooded murders of not only the Paandava brothers, but also the others who are still alive on their side. In this pursuit, Ashwatthama first comes across Drishtadhyumna, who was sleeping alongside Shikhandi. Mad with rage, Ashwatthama sees this as a perfect opportunity to seek revenge on Drishtadhyumna because he was the one who chopped off Guru Dhronachaarya’s head when he was weaponless on the battlefield. Thus, Ashwatthama decides to met out the same treatment to Drishtadhyumna for the cold-blooded act of murdering his father. With simmering anger, Ashwatthama attacks Drishtadhyumna while he is fast asleep and ensures that he doesn’t wake up at all in the dawn! Even while the helpless Drishtadhyumna requests Ashwatthama to kill him with an “Asthram”, Ashwatthama is in no mood to listen to him. Ashwatthama replies in fury that Drishtadhyumna doesn’t deserve that kind of a death with a divine “Asthram”, which might take him to “Veera-Svargam”. Rather, he brutally murders Drishtadhyumna with his sword and chops off his head! 

This cold-blooded murder, not just satisfies his anger, but also motivates him to go for more such murders! Next in line is Shikhandi, who is sleeping in the same tent as Drishtadhyumna. Ashwatthama’s target now is to kill Shikhandi, which is going to be a fairly easy task for him. Shikhandi is not as great a warrior as Drishtadhyumna and hence, with one fatal blow, Shikhandi suffers a painful death! Seeing Shikhandi suffering, Ashwatthama roars with anger thus, “Oh Shikhandi! You played the foul game on the tenth day of the war, along with Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna to kill the great Bhishmachaarya, didn’t you? Now the time has come for you to experience the same pain that Bhishmachaarya experienced on that fateful day!” Saying thus, Ashwatthama throws his powerful sword upon Shikhandi and with this, Shikhandi falls on the ground, dead! 

Next in the line is Yudhaamanyu! He too meets the same fate as Drishtadhyumna and Shikhandi! Next in the line of Ashwatthama’s fury are the “Upa-Paandavas”. They are five in number and are the sons of Draupati with each of the Paandava brothers. First amongst the five is Suthasoma. Upon seeing Suthasoma fast asleep, Ashwatthama chops off both his shoulders with his sword! Unable to bear the extreme pain, Suthasoma gets up to see what is happening around him. In fact, he is not even able to get up because of the pain of losing both his shoulders. Even as he tries to get up, Ashwatthama is ruthless. He now chops off Suthasoma’s head, the moment he tries to rise up from his bed! With this, Suthasoma breathes his last! Next in the line is Shataanika, who is Nakula’s son with Draupati. Ashawtthama chops off Shataanika’s head too and brutally murders him. Like this, he brutally murders the remaining three Upa-Paandava brothers as well. Upon seeing Suthasoma and Shataanika being killed, the remaining three brothers try to flee away from the tent. However, Krita-Varma and Sage Kripachaarya are standing at the entrance, guarding Ashwatthama, and according to Ashwatthama’s instruction, both of them stop the Upa-Paandava brothers from escaping outside! As Ashwatthama follows them out of their tents, the three Upa-Paandava brothers are also killed by Ashwatthama! 

Thus, with this, seven people have been murdered brutally during the wee hours of the night! As the three Upa-Paandava brothers rushed outside with a lot of crying, everybody in the nearby tents wake up! Meanwhile, sensing danger, Ashwatthama picks up Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma in his chariot and hurries away from that place! A huge disaster has just unfolded and for today, let us understand up to this point. We shall continue with this discussion in the next episode, to witness how this disaster is going to reflect upon the others in the Paandava camp! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1209 – Ashwatthama murders Drishtadhyumna during sleep!!!

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! 

Episode # 1208 – Bhagawan Shiva blesses Ashwatthama with a “Divine Sword”!!!

We’re at a very crucial juncture wherein Ashwatthama is raging with anger, and is prepared to kill the Paandava brothers in the most cowardly way ever – Hitting them while they are fast asleep. With this savage resolution of doing a cold-blooded murder, Ashwatthama approaches the tent area where the Paandavas are fast asleep. As he advances further, he is intercepted by the “Dharma-Devata”, who is standing outside in the form of a huge “Raakshasa” (Demon). As an intruder is advancing, “Dharma-Devata” quickly understands the impending danger and tries to stop Ashwatthama. In return, a brief battle ensues between the two, wherein Ashwatthama is trying several ways to kill this demon-like person, however, he is unable to succeed in his pursuit. All his arrows and swords are being neutralized by “Dharma-Devata”. As we’ve seen yesterday, this “Dharma-Devata” is protecting the Paandava brothers as a resultant of the enormous “Dharma” that Yudishtra has performed all through his lifetime! 

As Ashwatthama is failing to neutralize this “Dharma-Devata”, he doesn’t know how to progress further! Only if this “Dharma-Devata” is killed, will he be able to proceed further. Hence, Ashwatthama decides that no “Maanushya-Shakti” (Human capability) can destroy this demon-like person, and the only way to go about it is to perform a “Tapas” towards Bhagawan Shiva! Ashwatthama decides that he would perform a “Yaagam” (Spiritual offering) then and there, towards Bhagawan Shiva! He informs Sage Kripachaarya about this, and with his help, Ashwatthama starts meditating on Bhagawan Shiva on that spot itself! As he does so, Bhagawan Shiva presents him with a divine sword, which can neutralize the “Dharma-Devata” as well as the ones who are sleeping inside! As Bhagawan Shiva does so, He says thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! Till today, I’ve been silent because I’ve to respect Bhagawan Krishna’s words and divine mission. However, now that everything is coming to an end, as a “Samhaara-Moorthi” (Destroyer of the world), I’ve to fulfil my responsibility! Hence, I myself am entering into this divine sword, which will swing into action to unleash destruction. Oh Ashwatthama! You may go ahead in utilizing this sword for whatever mission you’re wanting to accomplish! You may even wonder why I’m saying all this to you – Bhagawan Krishna has already calculated how many people should be alive at the end of this war. Now that the war has come to an end, only those people should be alive, and the rest of them have to be destroyed! Till now, I was waiting for this war to get over, and now, I shall fulfil my responsibility to destroy all the other people who are surviving post this war, apart from those whom Bhagawan Krishna wants to continue living here!” 

All these events unfold within minutes, and Ashwatthama is quick enough to pounce on this opportunity. Within a flash, Ashwatthama unleashes his new powerful sword over the “Dharma-Devata”, and unable to bear its intensity, “Dharma-Devata” falls on the ground, dead! Now, as Ashwatthama has eliminated the stumbling block, he has free access to the people who are inside the tents. He makes his move swiftly and sees Drishtadhyumna and Shikhandi sleeping in one of the tents. Similarly, there are five people who are the sons of the Paandava brothers and Draupati These people are referred to as the “Upa-Paandavas”. Looking everywhere in all directions, Ashwatthama quickly plans his next move – Who should he kill first, and how does he proceed with his pursuit? He sees Drishtadhyumna on one side and Shikhandi on the other. Ashwatthama decides that before he captures the “big fish”, he would want to kill the others who surround it! The “big fish” here in this context is Yudishtra and the Paandava brothers. So, the strategy is very clear now – The first people under Ashwatthama’s radar are Drishtadhyumna and Shikhandi! 

So for today, let us understand up to this point, and in the next episode, we shall witness Ashwatthama unleashing his wrath slowly and steadily! Stay tuned for the action to begin!

Episode # 1207 – “Dharma-Devata” protects Yudishtra & Co. from Ashwatthama!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Ashwatthama simmering with anger, even as Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma are fast asleep under a huge tree in the Kurukshetra battlefield. As Ashwatthama is wide awake, he sees an eagle coming from nowhere and killing all the kids of a crow in its nest, which is built on the same tree. Upon seeing this, Ashwatthama strategizes that just like how the eagle is killing all the crow kids during sleep, he should also kill all the Paandava brothers while they are fast asleep! With this intention and resolution, he wakes up Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma from their deep sleep and expresses his strategy to them. Ashwatthama quotes a shloka, which narrates how success can be easily achieved over an enemy – By attacking them when they are asleep, by attacking them when they are consuming food, by attacking them when they are amidst travel, etc. Ultimately the point that Ashwatthama is trying to convey here is that, if the enemy is attacked at a time when he doesn’t anticipate it, victory is assured! Hence, Ashwatthama is going to attack the Paandava brothers when they are fast asleep, and when they least anticipate! 

Upon hearing this, Sage Kripachaarya gets angry on Ashwatthama. He replies back by saying that Ashwatthama conveniently picked up one shloka which says all these, but left the next shloka which also says that such acts of cruelty on the enemy are completely against the “Raaja-Dharma” and “Yuddha-Neeti”. Sage Kripachaarya questions Ashwatthama as to why he is not looking into this subsequent shloka here. Sage Kripachaarya goes on to scold Ashwatthama for around 25 shlokas here. I’m not going into this at the moment, but towards the end, Sage Kripachaarya says thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! Let us do one thing! Let us go and consult with the seniors in our family and check whether this is in favor of “Dharma” or against it. Once we get the clarity, you may go ahead and do whatever you want to!” 

As Sage Kripachaarya says thus, Ashwatthama immediately fumes with anger. He replies thus, “Oh Sage Kripachaarya! You’re not understanding the urgency of the situation. I do not care whether this is an act of “Dharma” or “Adharma”. Where were you when my father was tricked into believing that I’m dead? Where did you go when my father’s head was chopped when he was weaponless and alone in the battlefield? Why didn’t you talk all these logics of “Adharma” then? Oh Sage Kripachaarya! At this moment, I’m not interested in all these useless dialogues and consultations. I’m just going ahead with my plans and by tomorrow morning, Duryodhana should get the news that Yudishtra and Co. are dead!” 

As Ashwatthama decisively says thus, Sage Kripachaarya has nothing more to add. He just remains silent and Ashwatthama starts off for the pursuit from that tree. He slowly walks towards the tent area where Yudishtra and Co. are sleeping. As this happens, Ashwatthama instructs both Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma thus, “I’m now going to enter into their tents and unleash my fury upon them. At any point if someone wakes up and tries to escape out of the tents, both of you should block them and ensure that they do not flee away anywhere! As you hold them back, I shall kill all of them, even if they are trying to escape!” As Ashwatthama says thus, both Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma have no other option but to obey his words. It should be remembered that Ashwatthama is now the “Senapati” and the words of the “Senapati” are final. Hence, both of them follow Ashwatthama’s footsteps and are waiting outside the tents. Gradually, Ashwatthama makes an entry into the tent area and comes closer to the place where all of them are sleeping. As he gets closer and closer to the tents, there is a huge demon-like person who is protecting the entire set of people who are fast asleep. If Ashwatthama has to unleash his agenda, he has to first kill this demon before entering. Ashwatthama tries to attack the demon with his sharp arrows, but the demon is too powerful to break all of them! Ashwatthama tries to plunder the demon with his sharp swords, however, the demon is too strong enough to throw away all his swords! Similarly, whatever Ashwatthama does to kill the demon, he is not able to succeed! This demon-like person is none other than an embodiment of all the “Dharma” that Yudishtra & Co. have performed all through their lives till date! The “Dharma-Devata” is protecting the Pandava brothers from Ashwatthama’s wrath! 

So, given that this “Dharma-Devata” is acting as a stumbling block for Ashwatthama to proceed further, how is he now going to strategize? What is Ashwatthama going to do now? Let us wait and witness this interesting proceeding in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂 

Episode # 1206 – “I’m going to kill the Pandavas overnight!” – Ashwatthama stuns Sage Kripachaarya!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Ashwatthama, Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma going into the Kurukshetra battlefield once again, after Duryodhana coronates Ashwatthama as the next “Senapati”. The trio reaches the tent areas and as it is late into the night, all of them are feeling tired after a long day. While Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma are anticipating a nineteenth day of the war, Ashwatthama has different plans. He is still simmering with immense anger over what happened to his father. Ashwatthama wants to seek revenge and is determined to do so. Meanwhile, as Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma are fast asleep beneath a tree, Ashwatthama moves out silently from that place and makes his way towards the tents where the Paandava brothers are resting. 

Moving on thus, as Ashwatthama gets up from beneath the tree where the trio are resting, something very interesting and important happens. Sage Vyaasa depicts this scene beautifully here. On the tree top, there is a crow family, which is happily resting after the long day. The family comprises the mother and father crow, along with several kids. All of them are sleeping out of tiredness, and at this point, an eagle comes along that way. Searching for food, the eagle spots this family of crows sleeping in the nest amidst the tree branches and leaves. Now, upon looking at this crow family, the eagle starts feeling hungry more and more. What does the eagle do now? It silently comes near the crow nest and without disturbing the parent crows, the eagle starts attacking the kids one after the other. The eagle pokes one kid with its sharp beak and kills it during its sleep. Similarly, the eagle kills the second child adjacent to the first one by biting it to death. Upon understanding that something is happening, the third kid wakes up in half-sleep. Even before the kid opens its eyes, the eagle gives one sharp peck with its beak and kills it. As another one tries to fly away, the eagle tears and rips apart its wings and makes it fall on the tree branch itself. In this way, the eagle feasts on all these kids happily by killing them, even as the parent crows are fast asleep, totally unaware of the disaster that is unfolding! 

As this happens, Ashwatthama is silently watching this entire fiasco unfold, from a corner. His heart beats faster. Already he is simmering with anger, as all of us know. As the eagle kills the crow kids one by one, Ashwatthama decides thus, “Oh! This seems to be the apt strategy to deal with the Paandava brothers! I should be like this eagle which is ripping apart all the crow kids, and the Paandava brothers are like the crow kids who are losing their lives to the eagle! Hence, the only way to destroy the Paandavas is to attack them when they are fast asleep. Anyway, the Paandava brothers have fought the war for eighteen long days, and they would be damn tired tonight! Hence, they would not be aware of what goes around them. It is this time when I’ve to capitalize and kill them then and there, even before anybody wakes up! 

Planning thus, Ashwatthama quickly wakes up Sage Kripachaarya, who is fast asleep beneath the tree. Upon waking him up, Ashwatthama says thus, “Oh Sage Kripachaarya! Now it is midnight and everybody will be fast asleep! This is the right time to go and kill the Paandava brothers. I’ve made a plan to kill them while they are fast asleep, and as I do this, Duryodhana will be the happiest person on this earth! The moment Duryodhana hears the news that Yudishtra and Co. are no more, his “Atman” will rest in peace! Oh Sage Kripachaarya! As per the “Yuddha-Neeti”, if we attack an enemy who is not very powerful at that moment, we can taste victory! If the enemy is resting and if we attack him at this point of time, it is easier to kill him. Moreover, if the enemy is having food, this is also an apt time to kill him, as he wouldn’t be physically active! If the enemy is travelling from one place to the other, then he would be sans any weapons. This is a good time to attack him and win over him!” 

As Ashwatthama says thus, Sage Kripachaarya replies quickly – “Oh Ashwatthama! All this is correct. However, there’s a follow-up shloka to what you’ve said. Why don’t you look into that shloka also? The next shloka says that if a “Kshatrya” warrior involves in such cowardly techniques of winning over the enemy, it is going to give him enormous “Paapa Karma”, as such things are against the “Yuddha-Neeti”. Oh Ashwatthama! You are selective in your approach – You’re only looking into the shloka which favours you and are conveniently forgetting the next shloka which says that these techniques are highly unwarranted!” This is the same thing that we also do everyday in our lives as well! We take what is convenient for us and leave out which is not convenient! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion further into the next episode to witness what Sage Kripachaarya is going to reply to Ashwatthama on his plan! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1205 – Ashwatthama reaches the Pandavas’ vicinity during the night!!!

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!