Aśvatthāmā - The Fall of a Brāhmaṇa's Son
The epic Mahābhārata and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam vividly describe the tragic and abominable history of Aśvatthāmā, the son of the great martial guru Droṇācārya. Although born into an exalted brāhmaṇa family, his actions on and off the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra demonstrated a severe lack of spiritual qualification. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the history of Aśvatthāmā to clarify the true definition of a brāhmaṇa, to highlight the extraordinary compassion of pure devotees like Draupadī, and to demonstrate the supreme protective power of Lord Kṛṣṇa against the most devastating material weapons.
The Abominable Murders
Following the devastating Battle of Kurukṣetra, Duryodhana lay dying with his spine broken. In a desperate and foolish attempt to please his defeated master, Aśvatthāmā committed a horrific act of cowardice. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how this brutal murder cemented Aśvatthāmā's status as a degraded soul.
- 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.
- 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.
- Asvatthama, although he's born of a brahmana father, he did not possess the quality of a brahmana, neither the work of a brahmana.
- 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.
The Compassion of Draupadī
After Arjuna arrested the murderer and brought him back to the Pāṇḍava camp bound in ropes, a profound ethical dilemma arose. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the extraordinary Vaiṣṇava compassion of Draupadī, who, despite losing her five children, pleaded for Aśvatthāmā's life to spare his mother from experiencing the same grief.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
The Release of the Brahmāstra
Humiliated and driven from the camp, Aśvatthāmā's malice only intensified. Realizing that the Pāṇḍava dynasty hung by a thread, he targeted the unborn child Parīkṣit. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the terrifying nature of the brahmāstra, a weapon that functions similarly to a modern nuclear bomb but is deployed by subtle mantra.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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 Supreme Lord's Protection
Despite the irresistible and deadly radiation of Aśvatthāmā's weapon, the Supreme Personality of Godhead proved that His protection is absolute. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa personally entered the womb of Uttarā to shield the unborn Mahārāja Parīkṣit from the fiery blast.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 - Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.1.5-7.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the history of Aśvatthāmā serves as a profound theological and moral lesson within the Vedic literatures. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully uses this narrative to dismantle the idea of caste-by-birth, proving that Aśvatthāmā's cowardly murder of Draupadī's sleeping sons rendered him a mere brahma-bandhu, devoid of true brahminical culture. Contrasting his cruelty is the sublime Vaiṣṇava compassion of Draupadī, who transcended her own devastating grief to spare the life of her guru's son, thereby protecting his mother from parallel sorrow. Furthermore, Aśvatthāmā's desperate deployment of the brahmāstra highlights the terrifying extent of Vedic material weaponry. Yet, the ultimate revelation is found in Lord Kṛṣṇa's miraculous intervention. By personally entering Uttarā's womb to neutralize the irresistible nuclear heat and save the unborn Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the Lord eternally proved that no material danger, however insurmountable it appears, can ever overcome the absolute protection granted to His surrendered devotees.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Asvatthama. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.