Srimad Bhagavatam – day 25
Seeing Ashwatthama who, being bound like an animal, was being dragged by Arjuna, Draupadi, the devoted chaste wife began to scream loudly, “Release him! Release him right now! After all he is a revered Brahmin, he is the son of our Guru. Just free him right now. O Arjuna! that revered Guru from whom you learnt the intricate secrets of archery; that revered Guru from whom you learnt how to release and recall weapons, that great spiritual teacher Guru Drona is now standing in front of us in the form of Ashwatthama. Kripi, the wife of Guru Drona, the mother of this warrior, still remains alive. She did not give up her life along with her husband Drona. Hence release him right away.
O Arjuna, you know the principles of dharma. One should always worship and revere those belonging to the Guru’s lineage; one should never bring about grief to the Guru’s family. We should not cause sorrow to any member of the Guru’s family. Unable to bear the death of my sons, I have been wailing uncontrollably. Do not make Kripi, the great lady, to bemoan the death of her son and wail like me. What is the use of this weeping and wailing? By causing her grief, my children will not be restored to life, isn’t it?
If kings of the Kshatriya class (warrior community), who unable to restrain their minds, destroy or harm the Brahmin class, they themselves will get totally destroyed”.
Queen Draupadi, under no circumstances, overstepped the rules of righteousness. She would not agree to bypass the rules of dharma. Her heart was filled with supreme levels of compassion and mercy. She was devoid of feelings of deceit and dishonesty. She always had feelings of equanimity towards everyone.
Hearing these words spoken by Draupadi, Yudhisthira, who was born of an aspect of Yama (God of death), was immensely pleased. He, along with Nakula, Sahadeva, Arjuna, Lord Krishna and all others members present there unanimously agreed. All of them applauded her.
However Bhima in great anger roared, “This heinous sinner Ashwatthama has murdered children who were sleeping. By this heinous deed neither he, nor his master, Duryodhana, obtained any benefit. Elders always state that it is advisable to kill such a person”. In this way he roared.
Lord Srikrishna who was present there had heard the statements of Draupadi. He also heard the statements made by Bhima. He now looked at Arjuna’s face and smilingly began to speak as follows:
“A Brahmin, even if he has fallen to lowly degradable levels, should not be killed. I myself had said earlier that he who has set fire to the house, given poison or murdered innocent children should be killed. I am the one who have made both these statements. Therefore now do as I say. In order to pacify your dearest wife Draupadi, you had made a promise. Now fulfill it. At the same time through your action, bring happiness to Bhima, Draupadi and me”.
Understanding the feelings of Krishna, Arjuna severed the jewel together with the hair from Ashwatthama’s head.
Arjuna understood the Lord’s feelings. He was always with Krishna. He had the responsibility of fulfilling his promise. Everyone knew the reason for Ashwatthama’s arrogance. They also knew the source from where his power was originating. The jewel on his head was of limitless power. Arjuna therefore chopped it off together with the hair on his head.
By killing children, Ashwathama had already lost all his luster, splendour and sanctity. Now with the jewel removed from him, even the remaining radiance was gone. Arjuna now unbound Ashwatthama and drew him away from the camp.
Dharma Shastras dictate that a Brahmin, even if he falls to the lowest levels, must not be hanged or killed.
Chopping off the hair from his head, extracting all his wealth, throwing him out of his position or ostracizing him are considered as equal to death sentence for such degraded Brahmin. Ordering all the citizens of the village not to give him food and water or asking him to go off to the forests are punishments for such a Brahmin. Under no circumstances could he be killed or hanged to death.
In this way after throwing Ashwatthama out of the camp, the Pandavas together with Draupadi, bemoaning the death of their sons, completed the final rites for them.
With this the seventh chapter of the first canto comes to an end. We will now begin the eight chapter.
In this eighth chapter, saving Parikshit who was in Uttara’s womb from the Ashwatthama’s arrow, Kunti Devi’s Srikrishna stuti (hymn) and Yudhisthira’s grief are covered.
Suta continues, “After completing the cremation rites for their children, the Pandavas, in order to give water oblations to the departed sons, went to Ganga together with Srikrishna. The ladies walked in front. After grieving for them and completing the rituals there, they once again bathed in Ganga which had been purified by the dust of Lord Krishna’s lotus feet. Yudhisthira together with his brothers, Gandhari, Dhritarashtra, Kunti and Draupadi sat there profusely grieving for all their dead kith and kin. Krishna was observing all of them.
Together with the other Maharishis he approached and consoled them stating that all living beings had to inevitably face death.
Krishna had returned back to Yudhisthira, the kingdom that had been deceitfully snatched away from him by the Duryodhana and his other cunning relatives. He had ensured that the wicked kings who had unrightfully caught hold of Draupadi’s hair, and whose span of life was reduced due to this act, were all killed. He got Emperor Yudhisthira (Dharmaraja) to perform 3 Ashwamedha Yāgās. Like the fame attained by Indra, Krishna ensured that Yudhisthira’s virtuous fame spread in all the four directions of the world.
Sriman Narayana.