The final act of revenge

Starting with the last episode we are on a new chapter titled “the chapter of the blade of grass (Aisheeka Parvam)”. The last episode closed with the hot chase of Aswatthama by Bhima. The other Pandavas, lead by Krishna, were close on his heels fearing about his safety.

When Krishna and the Pandavas finally caught up with Bhima he was already facing the hot headed Aswatthama challenging the son of Drona for battle.

The all destructive arrow

Aswatthama was surprised to find Krishna and all the Pandavas seeking him out. There was no doubt in his mind that they had come for revenge. The son of Drona was unarmed, but, undaunted. He reflected for an instant and thought of the only way to defend himself. He picked up a blade of grass and chanted the secret Mantra of the Brahmastra taught by his father. Aswatthama, then, launched the grass against his enemies.

The innocuous grass became a formidable weapon by the power of the Mantra. A huge ball of fire emerged from the blade of grass, powerful enough to destroy everything on its path. The Pandavas were taken aback by the sudden development.

The Counter attack

Krishna, always sure of the right course of action, told Arjuna. “The son of the Acharya(Droni) has invoked the Brahmastra. It can be countered only by another Brahmastra, taught to you by Drona, himself. Do not waste even a second, else we may all perish under the power of Droni’s arrow”.

Arjuna did accordingly. Before sending his arrow he prayed first for the safety of his opponent who was the son of his teacher and then of himself and his brothers! The two arrows, both equal in power, and each capable of destroying the entire world raced against one another. Waves after waves of heat emerged from them. It is said that several bad omen appeared on the sky at that time indicating disaster.

The saviours

It was difficult to guess what would happen next. At that time, to the surprise of all, two sages appeared in the middle of the two arrows which were dashing against one another. They were the great sages Narada and Vyasa, himself. The sages addressed the warring men facing each other. “You two are fully aware of the destruction this arrow (Brahmastra) is capable of causing. You also know that it should not be used against men, unless it becomes absolutely unavoidable. Why did you behave impulsively like this, with very little apparent provocation?”

Arjuna bowed to the sages and replied. “I used my arrow only with the intention of neutralizing that of my enemy. I obey your command and withdraw mine. I am aware that the arrow of Droni, without the check of mine is now going to destroy all of us. I leave it to you, the revered sages, to protect us from the impending danger”. So saying, Arjuna withdrew his Brahmastra.

Aswatthama, then, offered his obeisance to the divine sages and spoke. “I sent my arrow fearing my life from the wrath of Bhima. I had chanted the Mantra making my weapon potent enough for the total destruction of the entire Pandava race (apaanDaveyam). I realize that I acted in haste.”

Vyasa said. “Son, you must withdraw your weapon immediately. I made Arjuna take his arrow back as I knew of the dangers. Even if the two arrows had destroyed one another, the entire region would go dry without rain for twelve long years. So, you must immediately take back your arrow, too”.

But, Aswatthama confessed that he did not have the capacity to withdraw his arrow. He simply did not have the disciplines for the task (Brahmacharya). The son of Drona said that his arrow will have to be directed at lives in the Pandava camp for it to destroy.

Krishna saves the situation

Krishna thought for a while and said. “Let this arrow target the fetus being carried by Uttara, the wife of Abhimanyu”. Krishna knew in his mind that he was fully capable of protecting the life of the baby yet to be born of Uttara. Aswatthama, accordingly, directed his arrow to the pregnant Uttara.

Krishna then spoke to Aswatthama. “True, that your arrow will kill the baby in the womb of Uttara. But, I shall give new life to it”.

A symbolic defeat

Aswatthama, next, pleaded for his life in the presence of the august sages. Vyasa, mediating on his behalf said. “I know that you carry a divine jewel on your head, which is almost a part of you and more precious than anything found in the entire world. You hand that over to the Pandavas, thereby accepting your total surrender”. Aswattha obeyed the command of the sage and pulled out the special jewel he wore so proudly on his head until that day. Vyasa, then, turned to yudhishthira and said. “You take this precious stone to your dear wife and console her explaining how your enemy has been humiliated. I am sure that Draupadi will accept the jewel in place of the life of the son of your teacher”. Yudhishthira accepted the jewel out of respect to the revered sage.

A curse

Krihna, then, turned to Aswatthama and said. “You will have to bear the consequence of your heinous acts. You shall roam about this world for three thousand years without any hope for salvation. Everyone will avoid your contacts thinking of your cruel deeds. Thus, you will suffer and repent for your own sinful acts.”

Aswatthama heard the curse pronounced by Krishna and withdrew himself to the nearby forest keeping his head low all the time. The Pandavas went to Draupadi in the company of Krishna and the two sages.

Draupadi was somehow consoled by the sages and made to accept the jewel as a token of revenge on behalf of he dear ones. She wanted Yudhishthira to adorn his head with it. The final act of the protracted and disastrous war that caused the lives of thousands of men and animals thus ended with a curse on the son of Drona to roam about the world in disgrace.

The last section of the chapter has a conversation between Yudhishthira and Krishna. The senior Pandava asked Krishna how Lord Siva could have permitted Aswatthama to commit a crime that had no excuse. Krishna went into the days of the first creation (of the world) and the role played by Siva in it. The apparent(unsatisfactory) meaning is that the Lord was capable of destroying the entire world when angry and blessing it with all the boons when pleased.

The boy whose life was saved by Krishna became famous by the name Pareekshit. He died later of snake bite under the curse of a sage. His son, Janamejaya, performed a serpent sacrifice which was the occasion for the narration of the story of Mahabharatam by sage VaiSampaayana.

The current chapter ends with this episode. So does the “book of the sleeping men”.