Category:Asvatthama
- son of Dronācārya and Kṛpī
Theme Analysis
The history of Asvatthama serves as a powerful lesson on the true qualifications of a brahmana. Although born to the exalted military teacher Dronacarya and his wife Krpi, Asvatthama failed to exhibit the qualities of his high birth. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly refers to him not as a true brahmana, but as a brahma-bandhu—a worthless friend or relative of a brahmana. His degradation reached its lowest point following the Battle of Kuruksetra. Seeking to please the dying Duryodhana, Asvatthama committed the cowardly and heinous act of murdering the five sleeping sons of Draupadi. However, even the wicked Duryodhana condemned this butchery.
When Arjuna arrested Asvatthama and brought him before Draupadi bound like an animal, a profound display of Vaisnava compassion unfolded. Despite her overwhelming grief at the murder of her children, Draupadi could not tolerate seeing the son of her spiritual master humiliated. Thinking deeply of the grief Asvatthama's mother, Krpi, would suffer if her son were executed, Draupadi pleaded for his release. Lord Krsna, however, had instructed Arjuna to kill the aggressor, creating a moral perplexity. Ultimately, Asvatthama was spared capital punishment but was severely humiliated, stripped of the jewel on his head, and driven from the camp.
In a final act of desperate malice, the disgraced Asvatthama unleashed a devastating nuclear weapon, the brahmastra, targeting the womb of Uttara to annihilate Pariksit, the last surviving heir of the Pandava dynasty. Unable to withdraw the fiery radiation, Asvatthama's weapon would have been fatal. Yet, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, personally intervened. Entering Uttara's womb, the Lord neutralized the irresistible brahmastra with His Sudarsana cakra, miraculously saving the child Pariksit and proving that the Supreme Lord's protection surpasses the most destructive weapons of the material world.
- The Brahma-bandhu: Asvatthama's history proves that being a brahmana is based on qualification and behavior, not merely hereditary birth.
- The Heinous Murders: By killing the five sleeping sons of Draupadi, Asvatthama abandoned all chivalric codes, an act so abominable that even Duryodhana rejected it.
- Vaisnava Compassion: Draupadi's plea to spare Asvatthama's life highlights her extraordinary saintly nature, placing the potential grief of Asvatthama's mother above her own desire for revenge.
- The Ultimate Weapon Defeated: Asvatthama's release of the brahmastra demonstrates the destructive power of Vedic nuclear weapons, but its neutralization by Lord Krsna within Uttara's womb proves the absolute supremacy of the Lord's protection.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Aśvatthāmā - The Fall of a Brāhmaṇa's Son.
Subcategories
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
A
K
Pages in category "Asvatthama"
The following 89 pages are in this category, out of 89 total.
2
- Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra, Krsna's younger sister, was killed at the Battle of Kuruksetra by the combined efforts of all the commanders in King Duryodhana's army - namely Karna, Asvatthama, Jayadratha, Bhisma, Krpacarya and Dronacarya
- Lord Krsna entered within the womb of Uttara to save her embryo from the attack of Asvatthama's brahmastra
A
- A friend or son of a brahmana, when fully qualified, can be called a brahmana and not otherwise. Since Asvatthama's decision is immature, he is purposely called herein the son of a brahmana
- Abhimanyu was the son of Subhadra, Krsna's younger sister. He was killed at the Battle of Kuruksetra by the combined efforts of all the commanders in King Duryodhana's army - namely, Karna, Asvatthama, Jayadratha, Bhisma, Krpacarya and Dronacarya
- After the Battle of Kuruksetra, he punished Asvatthama, who had killed all the five sons of Draupadi. Then all the brothers (the five Pandavas) went to Bhismadeva
- Although Asvatthama was an aggressor, he stood without any fighting weapons. The ruling is that an aggressor, when he is without weapon or chariot, cannot be killed. All these were certainly perplexities
- Arjuna arrested Asvatthama and was going to kill him. In fact, Krsna ordered, - Kill him. He is not a brahmana; he is less than a sudra
- As a brahma-bandhu, or a worthless son of a brahmana, Asvatthama was not to be killed, but he was at the same time an aggressor also
- As by releasing nuclear weapon there is radiation, similarly, we have got description that when Asvatthama released his brahmastra, there was a big radiation, people were feeling very terrible heat
- As soon as Asvatthama was brought before Draupadi, she thought it intolerable that a brahmana should be arrested like a culprit and brought before her in that condition, especially when the brahmana happened to be a teacher's son
- As the son of a brahmana, he (Asvatthama) should not have made so many mistakes, and for such gross negligence of duty he was to be punished by the Lord Himself
- Asvatthama discharged the brahmastra simply to kill the Pandavas, namely the five brothers headed by Maharaja Yudhisthira and their only grandson, who was lying within the womb of Uttara
- Asvatthama knew, - The last descendant of the Kuru family is Pariksit, the son of Abhimanyu. He is in the womb of Uttara, so let me kill him also, and then the entire dynasty will be finished
- Asvatthama may be respected by a good-natured woman, but that does not mean that he is as good as a genuine brahmana
- Asvatthama released the weapon just to finish all the male members of Pandu's family; therefore in one sense it was more dangerous than the atomic bombs because it could penetrate even the most protected place and would never miss the target
- Asvatthama thought, "If I kill these five sons of the Pandavas and present their heads to Duryodhana, he will be very much pleased." Therefore, when the five sons were sleeping, he severed their heads, which he then presented to Duryodhana
- Asvatthama was a bona fide son of Dronacarya and Krpi, but because he had degraded himself to a lower status of life, it was proper to treat him as an animal and not as a brahmana
- Asvatthama was also formerly called the brahma-bandhu, or the friend of a brahmana. Being a friend of a brahmana does not mean that one is a brahmana by qualification
- Asvatthama was the representative of Dronacarya, and therefore killing Asvatthama would be like killing Dronacarya. That was the argument of Draupadi against the killing of Asvatthama
- Asvatthama's mother, Krpi, was born in the family of Gautama
- Asvatthama's mother, she's innocent, but on account of the son's death, she would be unhappy. Considering all these points he was excused from the capital punishment
- Asvatthama, although he's born of a brahmana father, he did not possess the quality of a brahmana, neither the work of a brahmana
- Asvatthama, having been insulted, retaliated by unleashing a brahmastra. The brahmastra is something like a nuclear weapon. It can go to the enemy, wherever he is, and kill him
- Asvatthama, he's born of a brahmana father, but his work has been proved just like a butcher
- Asvatthama, the son of Dronacarya, committed murder by killing the five sleeping sons of Draupadi, by which he dissatisfied his master Duryodhana, who never approved of the heinous act of killing the five sleeping sons of the Pandavas
- At that time (when presented the heads of sons of the Pandavas), Duryodhana was incapacitated. His spine was broken, and he could not move. Asvatthama said, - I have brought the five heads of the Pandavas, my dear Duryodhana
B
- Because my (King Pariksit's) mother surrendered unto Lord Krsna's lotus feet, the Lord, Sudarsana-cakra in hand, entered her womb and saved my body, which was almost destroyed by the fiery weapon of Asvatthama - SB 10.1.5-7
- Being distressed by hunger and thirst was only a show, because the King (Pariksit) endured much, even in the womb of his mother. He was never disturbed by the glaring heat of the brahmastra released by Asvatthama
- Both Bhima and Draupadi held opposite views about killing Asvatthama. Bhima wanted him to be immediately killed, whereas Draupadi wanted to save him
- By custom, Asvatthama was offered the same respect as offered to his father (Dronacarya). It was so because generally the people accept the son of a brahmana as a real brahmana, by sentiment only. Factually the matter is different
D
- Drauni (Asvatthama), although he belonged to the brahmana family and he accepted the profession of a ksatriya, he degraded so much that he cut off the heads of five sons of Draupadi while they were sleeping
- Draupadi could not tolerate Asvatthama's being bound by ropes, and being a devoted lady, she said: Release him, release him, for he is a brahmana, our spiritual master
- Draupadi desired that Asvatthama be at once released, and it was all the same a good sentiment for her
- Draupadi is Vaisnavi. She is feeling more than herself, the wife of Dronacarya, mother of Asvatthama, how she will feel. Therefore Vaisnava's qualification is, para-duhkha-duhkhi
- Draupadi said, "If Asvatthama dies, then Dronacarya's wife, our mother guru, will be very much unhappy. So release him and let him go away." Thus Arjuna freed Asvatthama
- Draupadi said, - I am suffering because of the death of my sons, and this rascal (Asvatthama) is the son of our Guru Maharaja, Dronacarya, who has done so much for us
- Duryodhana mentioned (in BG 1.8) the exceptional heroes in the battle, all of whom are ever-victorious (Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava). BG 1972 purports
- Duryodhana said to Dronacarya: There are personalities like you, Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava, who are always victorious in battle
H
- He (Akrura) saw the son of Dronacarya, Asvatthama, as well as the five Pandava brothers and other friends and relatives living in the city
- He (Asvatthama) 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
- He (Asvatthama) manufactured this deadly weapon. It is material. Still, it is so deadly weapon, brahmastra. He was not working in a laboratory, finding out so many chemicals to make an atomic nuclear weapon. Simply water
- He (Dronacarya) is certainly still existing, being represented by his son (Asvatthama). His wife Krpi did not undergo a sati with him because she had a son
- He (Maharaja Pariksit) was never disturbed by the glaring heat of the brahmastra released by Asvatthama
- Here Asvatthama is indicated as twice-born. Certainly he was twice-born, but he fell down from his position, and therefore he was properly punished
K
- Krsna desired that the weapons released by both Drauni and Arjuna be withdrawn, and it was carried out by Arjuna at once. Similarly, there are many agents of the all-powerful Lord, and by His will only can one execute what He desires
- Krsna had saved the Pandavas, Maharaja Pariksit's grandfathers, on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, and Krsna had saved Maharaja Pariksit himself when he was attacked by the brahmastra of Asvatthama
- Krsna informed that "This heat is due to the Asvatthama's release of brahmastra," and Arjuna was advised, "Counteract it." Now they do not know how to counteract this nuclear weapon. Formerly they knew
M
- Maharaja Pariksit, the son of Abhimanyu, was the only surviving heir apparent in the family, and by the irresistible supernatural brahmastra weapon of Asvatthama, he was forced to be annihilated
- Maharaja Pariksit, while in the womb of his mother, was struck by the brahmastra released by Asvatthama, and he was feeling the burning heat
O
- O King, during the eighth manvantara, the great personalities Galava, Diptiman, Parasurama, Asvatthama, Krpacarya, Rsyasrnga and our father, Vyasadeva, the incarnation of Narayana, will be the seven sages
- O Saunaka, although the supreme brahmastra weapon released by Asvatthama was irresistible and without check or counteraction, it was neutralized and foiled when confronted by the strength of Visnu (Lord Krsna)
- O son of Bhrgu (Saunaka) when the child Pariksit, the great fighter, was in the womb of his mother, Uttara, and was suffering from the burning heat of the brahmastra (thrown by Asvatthama), he could observe the Supreme Lord coming to him
S
- She (Draupadi) could not tolerate Asvatthama's being bound by ropes, and being a devoted lady, she said: Release him, for he is a brahmana, our spiritual master
- She (Draupadi) is disturbed, thinking of the position of Asvatthama's mother. Personally, she is not at all aggrieved. She's aggrieved, but she is thinking the grief of Asvatthama's mother more than her. This is Vaisnava
- She (Draupadi) was very much aggrieved when her five sons were killed by Asvatthama. At the last stage, she accompanied her husband Yudhisthira and others and fell on the way
- Since his life was in danger, he (Asvatthama) touched water in sanctity and concentrated upon the chanting of the hymns for throwing nuclear weapons, although he did not know how to withdraw such weapons
- Sometimes we hear from the Vedic literature that some personalities from the Vedic age, such as Vyasadeva and Asvatthama, are still living. Here we understand that Maru is also still living
- Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King Pariksit, you were burned by the brahmastra of Asvatthama, but when Lord Krsna entered the womb of your mother, you were saved
- Suta Gosvami said: Draupadi then saw Asvatthama, who was bound with ropes like an animal & silent for having enacted the most inglorious murder. Due to her female nature, & due to her being naturally good & well-behaved, she showed him due respects
T
- The brahmastra, the supreme weapon released by Asvatthama, was something similar to the nuclear weapon but with more radiation and heat
- The brahmastra, which was thrown by Asvatthama at the child Pariksit, was certainly supernaturally powerful, and nothing of the material world could resist its force of penetration
- The embryonic body of Parīkṣit which was in formation after Uttarā's pregnancy by Abhimanyu, the great hero, was burned by the brahmāstra of Aśvatthāmā, but a second body was given by the Lord within the womb, and thus the descendant of Pūru was
- The last danger was drauny-astra, the weapon of Asvatthama, the son of Drona. Asvatthama performed a most abominable act by killing the five sons of the Pandavas
- The Lord was always with him (Maharaj Pariksit), even from the time when he was helplessly lying in the womb of his mother and was attacked by the blazing brahmastra weapon of Asvatthama
- The only remaining hope was the child in the womb of his daughter-in-law, Uttara, and he was also attacked by Asvatthama, but by the grace of the Lord the child was saved
- The sage Saunaka said: The womb of Uttara, mother of Maharaja Pariksit, was spoiled by the dreadful and invincible brahmastra weapon released by Asvatthama. But Maharaja Pariksit was saved by the Supreme Lord
- The sages were absorbed in hearing such (about Krsna) descriptions, but now they wanted to turn to the original topic, and thus the inquiry was made by Saunaka Rsi. So the subject of the release of the brahmastra weapon by Asvatthama is renewed
- The significant point in this sloka is that Asvatthama was caught and bound up with ropes like an animal
- The son of Dronacarya (Asvatthama) beheaded the five sleeping sons of Draupadi and delivered them as a prize to his master, foolishly thinking that he would be pleased. Duryodhana, however, disapproved of the heinous act
- The word dvijatmajah is significant here because Asvatthama, although the son of Dronacarya, was not exactly a qualified brahmana. The most intelligent man is called a brahmana, and it is not a hereditary title
- There are personalities like yourself, Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava, who are always victorious in battle. BG 1.8 - 1972
- This (Maharaja Pariksit is miraculously saved in the womb of his mother) was caused by Drauni (Asvatthama), Acarya Drona's son, who killed the five sons of Draupadi while they were asleep, for which he was punished by Arjuna
- This incident (of The Lord giving Pariksit a second body in the womb after it was destroyed by Asvatthama's brahmastra) is the direct proof that the body and the living entity, the spiritual spark, are different
- To a good lady like Draupadi, the matter (of Asvatthama) was considered not from the angle of sastric vision, but as a matter of custom
W
- When Asvatthama destroyed the embryo of Maharaja Pariksit, the Lord, by His own internal potency, entered into the womb of Uttara by His plenary portion just to give audience to the would-be Maharaja Pariksit, who was in great danger
- When he (Asvatthama) was brought before Srimati Draupadi, she, although begrieved for the murder of her sons, and although the murderer was present before her, could not withdraw the due respect generally offered to a brahmana or to the son of a brahmana
- When he (Maharaja Pariksit) was in the womb of his mother, a brahmastra weapon was released by Asvatthama to kill the child
- When he pressed the heads, the heads collapsed, and Duryodhana said, "Oh, these are not the heads of the Pandavas. They must be the heads of their sons." When Asvatthama admitted that this was so, Duryodhana fainted
- When the Lord saw that there was no time for the Pandavas to counteract the brahmastra of Asvatthama, He took up His weapon even at the risk of breaking His own vow
- When the son of Dhrtarastra fell down lamenting, his spine broken, being beaten by the club of Bhima, the son of Drona beheaded the five sleeping sons of Draupadi and delivered them as a prize to his master, foolishly thinking that he would be pleased
- When the son of the brahmana (Asvatthama) saw that his horses were tired, he considered that there was no alternative for protection outside of his using the ultimate weapon, the brahmastra (nuclear weapon)