Ashwatthama’s Revenge – The Night Attack
Duryodhana had fallen.
Bhima had defeated him in the final mace duel.
The Kaurava army was almost completely destroyed.
The Pandavas believed that the war had finally come to an end.
But Ashwatthama could not accept the death of his father Drona and the destruction of the Kaurava side.
His heart was filled with anger and revenge.
That night, he made a terrible decision.
1. Ashwatthama Sees Duryodhana
Ashwatthama went to see Duryodhana, who was lying wounded after his battle with Bhima.
Duryodhana was still alive.
He was devastated by the destruction of his army and the deaths of his brothers and friends.
Ashwatthama was furious.
He wanted revenge against the Pandavas and their allies.
2. Ashwatthama Becomes Commander
Duryodhana appointed Ashwatthama as the commander of what remained of the Kaurava forces.
Only a few major warriors were still with him.
Ashwatthama, Kripacharya and Kritavarma remained.
Ashwatthama decided that he would not allow the Pandavas to celebrate their victory peacefully.
3. Ashwatthama’s Anger
Ashwatthama remembered his father Drona.
He believed that Drona had been killed through deception.
He also remembered the deaths of Karna, Bhishma and the other Kaurava warriors.
His anger grew stronger.
He wanted to destroy the Pandava camp while everyone was asleep.
4. The Owl Gives Him an Idea
According to the traditional story, Ashwatthama witnessed an owl attacking sleeping crows at night.
He saw how the owl could attack its enemies while they were unaware.
Ashwatthama took this as a sign.
He decided to attack the Pandava camp during the night.
Kripacharya and Kritavarma accompanied him.
5. The Night Attack Begins
Ashwatthama entered the Pandava camp during the night.
The warriors were sleeping after the long and exhausting war.
The camp was not expecting another attack.
Ashwatthama began his terrible assault.
The peaceful night quickly turned into chaos.
6. The Sons of Draupadi
Among those killed were the five sons of Draupadi, known as the Upapandavas.
They were young warriors who had fought on the Pandava side.
Their deaths were a devastating tragedy.
The Pandavas had won the war, but their victory was followed by another terrible loss.
7. Drishtadyumna Also Falls
Ashwatthama also killed Drishtadyumna, the commander of the Pandava army.
Drishtadyumna had played a major role in the death of Drona.
Ashwatthama considered him one of the people responsible for his father’s death.
His revenge was becoming complete.
8. Ashwatthama Leaves the Camp
After the attack, Ashwatthama returned to Duryodhana.
He told him that the Pandava camp had been destroyed.
Duryodhana was pleased to hear that revenge had been taken.
But this would be one of the final moments of his life.
The great Kurukshetra War had ended in enormous tragedy.
9. The Pandavas Learn the Truth
The Pandavas were devastated when they learned what had happened.
Draupadi was heartbroken after learning about the deaths of her sons.
The victory that had once seemed so important now felt meaningless.
She demanded justice.
The Pandavas decided to find Ashwatthama.
10. Ashwatthama Flees
Ashwatthama realized that the Pandavas were coming after him.
He fled toward the forest.
Eventually, he reached the place where Vyasa was present.
The Pandavas followed him.
Ashwatthama knew that he could not easily defeat them in an ordinary battle.
So he decided to use a powerful divine weapon.
11. Ashwatthama Uses the Brahmastra
Ashwatthama released the Brahmastra, a powerful divine weapon.
Arjuna responded by releasing a Brahmastra of his own.
The two weapons threatened terrible destruction.
Sage Vyasa intervened.
He ordered both warriors to withdraw their weapons.
12. Arjuna Withdraws His Weapon
Arjuna was able to withdraw his Brahmastra.
Ashwatthama could not.
Instead, he directed the weapon toward the womb of Uttara, who was carrying the child of Abhimanyu.
That unborn child was Parikshit.
13. Krishna Protects Parikshit
Krishna protected the unborn child.
The weapon could not destroy Parikshit.
The child survived.
This was extremely important for the future of the Kuru dynasty.
Parikshit would later become an important king.
14. Ashwatthama Is Punished
Ashwatthama was punished for his actions.
The jewel on his forehead, according to the traditional account, was taken from him.
He was also cursed to wander the earth for a very long time, suffering from the consequences of his actions.
His revenge had brought him no true victory.
Instead, it left him with punishment and sorrow.
The War Is Truly Over
The Kurukshetra War had finally come to an end.
But the Pandavas had lost almost everyone they loved.
The Kauravas were gone.
Bhishma was on his arrow bed.
Drona was dead.
Karna was dead.
Abhimanyu was dead.
Ghatotkacha was dead.
The sons of Draupadi were dead.
The Pandavas had won the kingdom, but their hearts were filled with grief.
The next chapter would not be about war.
It would be about how Yudhishthira would rule the kingdom after such enormous destruction.
The story continues in Maha Bharatham Part 25 – Yudhishthira Becomes King and the Pandavas Face the Aftermath of War.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who attacked the Pandava camp at night?
Ashwatthama, accompanied by Kripacharya and Kritavarma.
Who were the Upapandavas?
They were the five sons of Draupadi, one son from each of the five Pandavas.
What weapon did Ashwatthama use against Arjuna?
Ashwatthama used the Brahmastra.
Who was Parikshit?
Parikshit was the unborn son of Abhimanyu and Uttara.
Who protected Parikshit?
According to the traditional story, Krishna protected the unborn Parikshit from the Brahmastra.
What happened to Ashwatthama?
He was punished and cursed to wander the earth, according to the traditional Mahabharata account