Gomangala

Ashwathama Parva is the eightieth upa parva included in the tenth maha parva, named Sauptika Parva. This is also called Ashwathama Nirgamaṇa Parva, since he departed after the advice of Krishna, and Ashwathama was given into the custody of Vyasa, whom he followed to learn moral ethics. Vaishampayana continued the narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

Why had the Pandava brothers not returned to their camp on the seventeenth and eighteenth evenings?

On the seventeenth evening, instead of going back to their own army camps, the Pandava brothers went to an undisclosed hiding place as per the instructions of Krishna. By that evening, Karna had fallen, while Kripa was still alive since he was near the throne. Karna had already died following his own vows and the yoga of his lifetime. All the Kaurava brothers died except Yuyutsu and Duryodhana. The father of Yuyutsu was Dhritarashtra and his mother was Sughada, the maid-servant of Gandhari.

On the first day morning of the war, Yuyutsu had already joined the Pandavas’ side, leaving the Kauravas’ side. Since the entire Kurukshetra area was filled with blood-stained, wounded soldiers, holy people like Durvasa Rishi could not find a peaceful place to sit for their evening prayer. Some soldiers were given meat and pork to eat every day. It was noteworthy that the pigsty of livestock kept in underground cages was empty but without bloodstains. Bhima ordered hunted meats, with instructions to trace the missing Duryodhana. The butchery was done in the army kitchens only, and the wastage was neatly processed. Hence, near the Oghavati River, one pigsty was selected by Krishna for hiding and night resting for the Pandavas.

Aishika Parva is the seventy-ninth upa parva included in the tenth maha parva, named Sauptika Parva. Vaishampayana continued the narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What were the main contents of Aishika Parva?

The main contents of this Aishika Parva were three itemized subjects. First was to receive back the Aishika, a powerful weapon similar to the Brahmastra, including a Brahma Shira Mani, from Ashwathama. Second was to remove the curse on Ashwathama at the request of Uttara Kumari, wife of Abhimanyu. Third was to nominate a suitable person for the throne of Hastinavati palace as a later ruler after Yudhishthira. The inheritor to the throne was Prince Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna, nominated by Yudhishthira.

One weapon, called Aishikastra, was gifted to Ashwathama by Krishna at Dwaraka, but it was given to him due to the hard efforts of his father Drona. It was very noble and powerful, but he used it for unlawful violence, such as killing Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, and sleeping soldiers with a sword while they were resting at night in the camps. These actions were not suitable for a good person. Hence Krishna attempted to deprive Ashwathama of this weapon. The Brahma Shira Mani was also a divine, greatly prestigious item with him. Later, it was taken back from him and handed over to Yudhishthira at the desire of Draupadi.

Sanjaya was imprisoned as a war prisoner, but by luck he was set free. How?

अहमेकोऽवशिष्टस्तु तस्मान्सैन्यान्महीपते ।
मुक्तः कथंचिद्धर्मात्मन् वृष्णेः कृतवर्मणः ॥

Sanjaya was describing to Dhritarashtra the incidents of the seventeenth night. He was the only person alive after Kritavarma visited the war camp of the Pandavas. One charioteer of Dhrishtadyumna escaped just as Ashwathama was reaching there, and he ran to report to Yudhishthira, riding on his horse. Kritavarma freed Sanjaya, and he fled immediately to the Kaurava side camp to save his body and life. In the early morning, Sanjaya assessed the situation, but Bhima was then calling Duryodhana for the final mace fight near Dwaipayana Sarovara.

Why had Yudhishthira repented?

Sauptika Parva is the seventy-eighth Upa parva included in the tenth Maha parva named as Sauptika Parva. Vaishampayana continued the narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What was the unbelievable message as asked by Dritarashtra?

Bhima, having the power of a thousand elephants, had killed all hundred Kauravas in the war. Dritharashtra could not believe this message of Sanjaya.

When did the Sauptika Parva really take place?

Sauptika parva was reported to Dritharashtra on the evening of the eighteenth night after the fall of all Kauravas including Duryodhana. Sauptika means history and the happenings during the sleeping time.

On the seventeenth day evening and at night when Duryodhana had hidden under water, in order to satisfy him, Ashvathama had done heinous actions. With Kritavarma and Kripa as his commandos for his safety, in Sauptika parva, the description of massacre violence of Ashvathama were described. Really, Vyasa had described it as on the seventeenth day night incidences. The cruel role of Ashvathama was described here. Krishna had finally intervened and blessed Pareekshit to live till sixty years.

What did Ashvathama do in the evening after the death of Shalya?

Ashvathama had called Kripa and Kritavarm, rode on their horses into the forest and sat together under a tree. On the tree, one owl had killed many other innocent birds. Ashvathama desired similarly, to kill the remaining Pandava soldiers since Bhima had killed all Kaurava brothers with soldiers except Duryodhana.

Hence, he called Kritavarma and Kripa and returned to the Pandava camps where soldiers were sleeping. Kritavarma had waited outside with a sword. Kripa had shone the lamp for Ashvathama. Ashvathama had killed Shikhandi and his charioteer, and then moved towards Drishtadyumna but the charioteer had escaped from the back door. The charioteer had ascended his horse and rode to report to Yudhishtira about the violence.

Ashvathama had killed Drishtadyumna and all the five Upa-pandavas since the facial resemblances were alike Pandavas. Ashvathama had thought he had killed Pandavas but later Yudhishtira had instructed Arjuna and Bhima to capture Ashvathama alive. Yudhishtira had instructed Nakula to bring all ladies from Upaplava including Uttarakumari there.

Gadhayuddha Parva is the seventy-seventh Upa Parva included in the ninth Maha Parva, named as Shalya Parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

When was there a mutual fight in the Mahabharata war?

अश्टादश दिनान्यद्य युद्धस्यास्य जनार्दन । वर्तमानस्य महतः समासाद्य परस्परं ॥

‘Today being the eighteenth day, O Janardana, the day for mutual fight has approached’. Arjuna was speaking with Krishna.

Arjuna and other Pandava brothers were spectators for the mutual fight between Bhima and Duryodhana. There was no soldier supporting with weapons on the eighteenth day but Balarama was the referee there. Balarama was away from the Mahabharata war but a most powerful warrior. Krishna had supported his pilgrimage and his impartial stand.     

What did Arjuna hint in the mace fight engaged by Bhima?

धनंजयस्तु श्रुत्वैतत्केशवस्य महात्मनः । प्रेक्षतो भीमसेनस्य हस्तेनोरुमताडयत् ॥

Meaning: Arjuna on hearing the words of great Krishna, had brought the attention of Bhima, during his fighting with Duryodhana, shown by slapping his own left lap, hinting him to blow the thigh with the mace. The Sanskrit of Vyasa is seen here. But the original verses were shuffled within the palm leaf bundles. Mahabharata war had been fought for eighteen days only as told by Vyasa.   

What did Vyasa tell to Yudhishtira at Upaplava that was remembered by him then?

उपप्लव्ये महर्षिर्मे कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् । यतो धर्मस्ततः कृष्णो यतः कष्णस्ततो जयः ॥

Yudhishtira remembered the words of Vyasa since he had informed him at Upaplava about the success of the war, as Dharma it is Krishna, he follows it, and hence, where there is Krishna there is the success. Pandavas had won it by Krishna.

Who were absent in the Gadayuddha and what they were doing then? How was law and order observed automatically there?

Saraswatha Parva is the seventy-sixth Upa Parva included in the ninth Maha Parva named as Shalya Parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

Balarama had gone for pilgrimage. He started it before the start of the war. Balarama had advised Krishna to be impartial during the war but Krishna replied he would be aligned to the side of Dharma. Duryodhana had studied mace fight under Balarama along with Bhima.

During the pilgrimage, Balarama had visited the twelve Shiva kshetras and fifty two Devi kshetras. Balarama desired Dwaraka would be one such notified holy place similar to the well-known seven pilgrimage centers. So Balarama decided to return to Dwaraka finally calling Krishna from Kurukshetra, and travelled together.

After the sinking of Dwaraka island, a temple for Krishna was built at Puri. So Puri is similar or equivalent to Dwaraka in holiness. Separate deities for Subhadra and Balabhadra were also available with Krishna in Puri. In the Tirthayatra parva, more description about the holy places and rivers would be available. Balarama desired for a peaceful life and hence kept away from the war hoax.  

Why this Upaparva got its name as Saraswatha parva?

Saraswathi was a great holy river. The river banks consisted of many holy places and many Rishis. They were living in their hermits there. Balarama had visited almost all such places and Vyasa had given the detailed descriptions of them with many side stories. Hence this Upa parva got its name as Saraswatha parva.

Jalapravesha Parva is the seventy-fifth Upa parva included in the ninth Maha parva named as Shalya parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What is Hridapravesha?

Hridapravesha means the same as Jalapravesha. It means hiding under water.

What was advised by Krishna to Yudhishtira regaring Shalya?

तवैव हि जयो नूनं हते मद्रेश्वरे युधि । तस्मिन् हते हतं सर्वं दार्तराष्ट्र बलं महत् ॥

Krishna advised Yudhishtira, after killing the king of Madra, success would be yours. In the war, if Shalya, the king of Madra is killed, then all great powers of Dritarashtra would be ceased. On the seventeenth day, Yudhishtira killed Shalya.

What did Duryodhana and Yudhishtira do after the death of all Kaurava commanders one by one, on the seventeenth day evening? 

On the seventeenth day evening, when the Madra king Shalya was killed by Yudhishtira, he was confident about the full success and hence met Krishna with his brothers. Yudhishtira consulted Krishna regarding the next actions.

Krishna told them to take rest for some time at a secret place. Hence they told their charioteers to go to safe places and have rest there at night but not to go to army camps for resting. In the chariot of Yudhishtira, the five brothers had gone to the pig sty near Oghavathy tributary river side. Very secretly, they had rest inside the pig sty after their evening prayers. 

Shalya Vadha Parva is the seventy fourth Upa parva in the ninth Maha parva named as Shalya Maha parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What are the various upa parvas of Shalya parva and what are their contents?

Shalya Maha parva has four upa parvas. Shalya vadha parva, Jalapravesha parva, Saraswata parva and Gadayuddha parva are the four upa parvas.

In the Shalya vadha parva, Dushasana vadha by Bhima on the sixteenth day and the Shalya being killed by Yudhishtira on the seventeenth day are described.

Duryodhana’s hiding in water is the content of the Jalapravesha parva. The Saraswata parva is the description of Balarama’s pilgrimage and his timely return to attend the mace war of Bhima and Duryodhana.

In the Gadayuddha parva, Duryodhana vadha by Bhima during the mace fight on the eighteenth day is described.

Thus, there are four upa parvas containing very interesting histories in Shalya parva.

After Shalya parva, what is the next Maha parva?

After Shalya parva, Sauptika parva is the next Maha parva. On the seventeenth night, Ashvathama had resorted to violence and Duryodhana had hidden under water and these were described in separate chapters. Ashvathama’s cruelties were alone described in the Sauptika Maha parva containing three separate upa parvas. Sauptika upaparva, Aishika upaparva and Ashvathama upaparva are the three chapters after Shalya Maha parva.

The history told by Vyshampayana reflects the replies against curiosity but not the consequence in chronology of time. Gadayuddha happened after Sauptika Maha parva. On the eighteenth day, Duryodhana was alone lying there while Balarama had gone to Dwaraka.   

What did Shalya do when the chariot of Karna could not move in the mud?

Shalya was the charioteer of Karna and he had done his best in the battlefield but the chariot could not move in the mud on the fifteenth day of the war. Due to various curses, also being unlucky, the arrows of Arjuna had hit Karna and Karna had died on the battlefield. Shalya had immediately jumped out of the chariot, climbed his own chariot and visited Duryodhana.

Karna Parva is the seventy third Upa parva in the eighth Maha parva named as Karna Parva. The Karna Mahaparva has only one Upa parva, Karna Upa parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

एको हि योगोऽस्य भवेद्वधाय चिद्रे ह्येनं स्वप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तं ।
कृच्च्रप्राप्तं रथचक्रे निमग्ने हन्याः पूर्वं त्वं तु संज्ञां विचार्य ॥

After killing of Ghatotkacha, Krishna had appreciated Karna. He then told to Arjuna, the only chance available for Arjuna to kill Karna would be when Karna was puzzled but Arjuna was not puzzled, and while his chariot wheel is immersed in mud, I shall signal you. Please remember tomorrow, on the fifteenth day evening.

As commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army, how many days did Karna fight?

तयोर्द्वे दिवसे युद्धं कुरुपांडव सेनयोः। कर्णे सेनापतौ राजन्नभूदद्भुतदर्शनं ॥

As commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army, Karna had fought for two days, from the fourteenth day till the fifteenth day evening. Karna had showed wonderful capabilities.

‘But on the fifteenth day evening, in the war between the Kaurava and Pandava armies, O king, Karna had died’, Sanjaya told to Dritarashtra. Arjuna was fighting just for the namesake only but the actual killing was done by Agni that was moving in front of Arjuna described by Vyasa as below. 

What were the bad omens seen on the morning of the fourteenth day?

Narayanastra Parva is the seventy-second Upa parva included in the seventh Maha parva named Drona parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What was Narayanastra?

Narayastra was a powerful weapon procured by Drona and provided to his son Ashwathama. It was in Parashurama’s custody for many years. Drona desired his son to live safely in the future, so the weapon was given to Ashwathama.

Who was the custodian of Narayanastra?

Ashwathama preserved Narayastra until the thirteenth day night.

Why was Ashwathama very violent after the thirteenth-day night war?

Drona was killed on the thirteenth-day night war by Drishtadyumna. During the night war, a fight between Yudhishtira and Karna was planned by Krishna and Bhima. Since Drona could not be killed in the daytime, it was planned and posted for the nighttime, also under the absence of Arjuna and Satyaki.

Drona Vadha Parva is the seventy-first Upa parva in the seventh Maha parva named as Drona parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What did Krishna tell regarding Drona to Bhima and Yudhishtira? 

Krishna told regarding the war capabilities of Drona to Bhima and Yudhishtira. Drona was fighting continuously without rest day and night for four and a half days till the thirteenth midnight. Krishna said that, if the death message of Ashwathama was heard by Drona, then he would be withdrawing from the battlefield. At the same time, a team of great Rishis suddenly appeared before Drona and they opined Drona was doing wrong; he should not fight with his students.

How was Drona Vadha done by Drishtadyumna on the thirteenth night?

Soon after the moonrise, some of the soldiers were alerted by Yudhistira to continue the war in the early night of the thirteenth day.  Karna found that Yudhishtira had been ready for fighting. Bhima was protecting Yudhishtira but they were tired of fighting. Leaving the fight with Satyaki, Karna started attacking Yudhishtira since Drona desired to capture him and make him a war prisoner.