The Son of Droṇa Punished
Draupadī then saw Aśvatthāmā, who was
bound with ropes like an animal and silent
for having enacted the most inglorious
murder. Due to her female nature, and due
to her being naturally good and well-
behaved, she showed him due respects as a
brāhmaṇa. She could not tolerate
Aśvatthāmā’s being bound by ropes, and
being a devoted lady, she said: Release him,
release him, for he is a brāhmaṇa, our
spiritual master. It was by Droṇācārya’s
mercy that you learned the military art of
throwing arrows and the confidential art of
controlling weapons. He [Droṇācārya] is
certainly still existing, being represented by
his son. His wife Kṛpī did not undergo a satī
with him because she had a son.
King Yudhiṣṭhira fully supported the
statements of the Queen, which were in
accordance with the principles of religion
and were justified, glorious, full of mercy
and equity, and without duplicity. Nakula
and Sahadeva [the younger brothers of the
King] and also Sātyaki, Arjuna, the
Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa, son
of Devakī, and the ladies and others all
unanimously agreed with the King.
Bhīma, however, angrily disagreed with
them and recommended killing this culprit,
who had murdered sleeping children for no
purpose and for neither his nor his master’s
interest. The Personality of Godhead, after
hearing the words of Bhīma, Draupadī and
others, saw the face of His dear friend
Arjuna, and He began to speak as if smiling.
The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa said:
A friend of a brāhmaṇa is not to be killed,
but if he is an aggressor he must be killed.
All these rulings are in the scriptures, and
you should act accordingly. You have to
fulfill your promise to your wife, and you
must also act to the satisfaction of
Bhīmasena and Me.
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Just then Arjuna could
understand the motive of the Lord by His
equivocal orders, and thus with his sword
he severed both hair and jewel from the
head of Aśvatthāmā. He [Aśvatthāmā] had
already lost his bodily luster due to
infanticide, and now, moreover, having lost
the jewel from his head, he lost even more
strength. Thus he was unbound and driven
out of the camp.
Cutting the hair from his head, depriving
him of his wealth and driving him from his
residence are the prescribed punishments
for the relative of a brāhmaṇa. There is no
injunction for killing the body. Thereafter,
the sons of Pāṇḍu, and Draupadī,
overwhelmed with grief, performed the
proper rituals for the dead bodies of their
relatives. Thereafter the Pāṇḍavas,
desiring to deliver water to the dead
relatives who had desired it, went to the
Ganges with Draupadī. The ladies walked
in front. Having lamented over them and
sufficiently offered Ganges water, they
bathed in the Ganges, whose water is
sanctified due to being mixed with the dust
of the lotus feet of the Lord.
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa caused three well-
performed aśvamedha-yajñas [horse
sacrifices] to be conducted by Mahārāja
Yudhiṣṭhira and thus caused his virtuous
fame to be glorified in all directions, like
that of Indra, who had performed one
hundred such sacrifices. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
then prepared for His departure. He invited
the sons of Pāṇḍu, after having been
worshiped by the brāhmaṇas, headed by
Śrīla Vyāsadeva. The Lord also
reciprocated greetings. As soon as He
seated Himself on the chariot to start for
Dvārakā, He saw Uttarā hurrying toward
Him in fear.
Uttarā said: O Lord of lords, Lord of the
universe! You are the greatest of mystics.
Please protect me, protect me, for there is
no one else who can save me from the
clutches of death in this world of duality. O
my Lord, You are all-powerful. A fiery iron
arrow is coming towards me fast. My Lord,
let it burn me personally, if You so desire,
but please do not let it burn and abort my
embryo. Please do me this favor, my Lord.
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Having patiently heard
her words, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is always
very affectionate to His devotees, could at
once understand that Aśvatthāmā, the son
of Droṇācārya, had thrown the brahmāstra
to finish the last life in the Pāṇḍava family.
The almighty Personality of Godhead, Śrī
Kṛṣṇa, having observed that a great danger
was befalling His unalloyed devotees, who
were fully surrendered souls, at once took
up His Sudarśana disc to protect them.
The Lord of supreme mysticism, Śrī Kṛṣṇa,
resides within everyone’s heart as the
Paramātmā. As such, just to protect the
progeny of the Kuru dynasty, He covered
the embryo of Uttarā by His personal
energy. Although the supreme brahmāstra
weapon released by Aśvatthāmā was
irresistible and without check or
counteraction, it was neutralized and foiled
when confronted by the strength of Viṣṇu
[Lord Kṛṣṇa]. Thus Parikshit, Uttara's was
saved.
