Ashwathama is one of the most complex characters in Mahabharata. His story remains largely unexplored even with a great role in the post war history of Mahabharata. Ashwathama character’s complexity arises mainly due to his final act of revenge in Kurukshetra which was against Kshatriya rules of war and almost killed entire future generation of Pandavas.Ashwathama was son of the Dronacharya (Hence known as Drauni also) and Krupi (Sister of Kripacharya). Apparently Ashwathama gave out a cry like a running horse hence the name Ashwathama (Horse Voiced). We know snippets of his story.
Once is when Drona and Kripi are living in extreme poverty and small Ashwatthama is hungry and wants milk as all his other friends. But his family can't afford to own a cow; hence Kripi mixes rice flour in water and gives it to him to drink. This forces Drona to visit his old friend from childhood days Drupad to take him up on his promise that he made to give him anything and everything in half, if asked for. When Drone reaches Drupat's kingdom he is met with an insult by the king that Brahmins deserves alms and not kingdoms. This made Drone take a oath to defeat Dhrupad and take half of his kingdom, which later he seeks from Pandavas and Kauravas as his guru dakshina.
Ashwathama is described as tall, dark and talented warrior in Mahabharata. Ashwathama was one of the seven chiranjeevis (One who will never die) in Mahabharata. Dronacharya gave birth to Ashwathama after his strong penance to Lord Shiva. Ashwathama was considered to be the son of Rudra, inheriting some his qualities. Just like rudra, it was impossible to beat Ashwathama in war when he is angry. But Ashwathama being a knowledgeable Brahmin with knowledge of all Vedas did not lose his cool easily.
Ashwatthama fights in Kurukshetra war from Kauravas side and later when Yudhisthira lies about Bhim killing Ashwathama to Dronacharya so that he could be rendered helpless and drops his weapons and eventually is killed; while Bhim had only killed an elephant by the same name. This made Ashwathama very angry and he then takes the oath to end the Pandava clan and is responsible for the last infamous act of Mahabharata.
When Ashwathama grasped how Duryodhana was lying mortally injured, his righteous anger swelled like the sea on full moon day. His father’s treacherous death had been already infuriating his mind steadily. He went to see duryodhana, he saw Duryodhana was put to ground with utter disregard to rules of war chivalry. Duryodhana was hit above his thighs, which was against the rules of traditional mace fight in which Bhima had beaten him. Emotionally turbulent Ashwathama took an oath there that he would send the Pandavas to the home of Yama that night. Duryodhana who was counting his last breaths, was filled with happiness when he saw Ashwathama take this oath. He immediately instated Ashwathama as the commander of Kaurava sena. He said to Ashwathama “All my hopes are on you”and makes him his senapati.
Night time wars were not prohibited in the Mahabharata. But attacking somebody when they have put their guard down was not acceptable within the war laws. He killed all panchal and pandava princes and put their tents on fire. Fire burnt people sleeping inside the tents, people who were woken out of their sleep and tried to run out of the camp were finished mercilessly by the Ashwathama positioning on the entrance of camps. In this way entire Pandava army apart from five Pandavas was finished in one single assault in the night. After completing his oath, Ashwathama rushed to dying Duryodhana and gave him the good news “There are only seven warriors left on the pandava side now ( Krishna , Pandavas and Satyaki)” Duryodhana died peacefully after hearing the news of destruction.
Pandavas confronted Ashwathama in the forests with Vyas Rishi. Ashwathama attacked the Pandavas with Brahmastra which was countered by Arjuna’s Brahmastra. Vyas Rishi foresaw the evident destruction of entire habitable universe with collision of two brahmastram. He urged both warriors to take back the astra to avoid annihilation of humankind. Mighty Arjuna retracted his Brahmastra, but Ashwathama could not!!! . Ashwathama was taught to use Brahmastra only once so he could not retract it back. In the mad fury of revenge, he targeted the Brahmastra onto the final heir of Pandavas. So the Brahmastra attacked the womb of Uttara (Wife of Abhimanyu). Somehow Krishna was able to protect the womb from the attack of Brahmastra and the Pandava lineage survived with birth of Parikshit.
Ashwathama surrendered to Pandavas and took out the shining jewel out of his forehead, which was supposed to protect him from all the weapons. He gave out the jewel to Bhima accepting his defeat, and went away to forest. Krishna cursed Ashwathama that you will never die and will roam around in forests without any love or hospitality till end of Kaliyuga.
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