Sauptika Parva (The Book of the Sleeping Warriors)

Summary

The Sauptika Parva is one of the most tragic and brutal books of the Mahabharata. It describes the events following the 18th day of the war. Enraged by the death of his father Drona and his friend Duryodhana, Ashwatthama, along with the only other Kaurava survivors, Kripacharya and Kritavarma, plans a horrific revenge.

He attacks the victorious Pandava camp at night while everyone is asleep. In a gruesome massacre, he kills the remaining Pandava warriors, including Dhrishtadyumna (who killed his father) and the five sons of Draupadi (the Upapandavas), mistaking them for the Pandavas. The parva concludes with the Pandavas pursuing Ashwatthama. In a final confrontation, Ashwatthama unleashes the ultimate weapon, the Brahmashirastra. Arjuna counters with his own. To save the world, Vyasa intervenes. Ashwatthama is cursed by Krishna to wander the earth for 3,000 years, suffering from incurable diseases, and is forced to surrender the divine gem on his forehead.

Key Events

• Ashwatthama's vow of revenge over the dying Duryodhana.
• The night-time massacre of the sleeping Pandava army.
• The killing of Dhrishtadyumna and the five sons of Draupadi (Upapandavas).
• The Pandavas learning of the massacre and Draupadi's grief.
• The pursuit of Ashwatthama.
• Ashwatthama releasing the Brahmashirastra to destroy the Pandava lineage.
• Arjuna countering with his own Brahmashirastra.
• Vyasa and Narada intervening to prevent world destruction.
• Krishna cursing Ashwatthama and forcing him to surrender his gem.
• Krishna saving Parikshit (Abhimanyu's unborn son) in Uttara's womb.