|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 26– The legend of Lord Krishna – Dhrauni Nigrahanam

It was on the eighteenth day of Kurukshetra war, Vrikodhara encountered Duryodhana who entered in the battlefield with great might and pride.  The battle between Vrikodhara and Duryodhana continued, eventually Vrikodhara lost his confidence, understood it is impossible to win over Duryodhana.  He pitifully looked at Krishna, who mischievously patted on his own thigh, as an indication to pound on Duryodhana’s thigh, which was considered as morally wrong for Kshatriya to attack below the waist of the opponent.  Vrikodhara with his powerful mace hit hard on the thigh of Duryodhana, thus Vrikodhara won over Duryodhana, and ultimately it was declared that Pandavas won the army of Kaurava.  On that night of victory, Pandavas along with Krishna moved out of their regular tents/shibila, to celebrate victory over the Kauravas at the instruction of Krishna.  The five sons of Draupadi remained in the tents of Pandavas were gone to deep sleep. 

Ashwaththama who is the son of Dronacharya, could not bear to watch the pathetic state of his close associate Duryodhana, he mentally prepared to destroy the Pandavas who killed his father in an unfair means in the battlefield, he was waiting for an opportunity take revenge on them and destroy the entire clan.  Ashwaththama stood before Duryodhana who was struggling for death and promised to please him for all those kindheartedness he had showered on Dhronacharya and his children.  Ashwaththama arrived in the Pandava’s tent during the dark hours of the night, found the children in place of Pandavas, and sieved their head off from the body.  Ashwaththama could not control his happiness; he took the lifeless head out of the sack and showed to Duryodhana, Alas! He cried out utter grief, and cursed Ashwaththama for his grave sin and left his mortal coil. 

On the next day Pandavas were welcomed by Devi Dhraupadhi who was grieving over the death of her children.  Devi Dhraupadhi was pacified by Arjuna and promised on his powerful weapon Gandeeva, that he would produce the perpetrator before her.  Thus, Krishna and Arjuna left in a chariot, chased after Ashwaththama who shot Bhramasthra against Arjuna was shocked, cried before Krishna was nullified the effect of it with another Bhramasthra shot at the instruction of Krishna.