Madhuvidya

Author(s): S D Laddu, T N Dharmadhikari, Madhvi Kolhatkar, Pratibha Pingle
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 442

276
R. N. Dandelar Felicitation Volume
over how to fulfil his vow, the way is shown to him by an owl who kills the crows in their nests at night. Asvatthaman then decides to kill the Pandavas and the Pāñcalas at night while they are asleep in their camp. Asvatthaman enters the camp of the Pandavas and Kệpa and Kệtavarman stand guard at the gate of the camp. Aśvatthaman is now on his killing-spree, his first victim being Dhrstadyumna. He then starts killing others who are unarmed and not properly prepared for a fight. In the darkness, he finds out his victims by their cries for help. Those that try to escape from him are taken care of at the gate by Krpa and Krtavarman. Their victims too are unarmed and unprepared and are, in fact, seeking for mercy with folded hands. But all this is of no avail. No one escapes them. All the principal warriors on the side of the Pandavas and the Pāñcālas, including the sons of Draupadi, are slain; no one who slept in the camp that night remained alive to see the light of the day next morning.
When Asvatthäman finally leaves the camp it is quiet, exactly as it was when he entered it the previous night - albeit with a difference.
The only ones who remain alive on the side of the Pāņdavas are those who were not in the camp (Kțsna, Satyaki, and the five Pandavas), and, in addition, the charioteer of Dhrstadyumna who, apparently, had a miraculous escape.
This charioteer relates to Yudhisthira about thr cruel killings in the camp. One just cannot imagine the condition of the Pandavas on hearing this ghastly news.
This incident in the camp runs parallel to the incident in the Khāndava forest. It is hardly necessary to comment on them. The similarities between the two stare us in the face.
(1) Agni alone entered the Khāndava forest and burnt the living beings that came his way; Kțsna and Arjuna stood outside and killed those who tried to escape.
Asvatthāman alone entered the camp of the Pāndavas and killed those he could lay his hands on ; Krpa and Kệtavarman stood out and killed those who tried to escape from Asvatthäman.
(2) Agni does not seem to have told Krsna and Arjuna to kill the beings running out to save lives; his only request to the two heroes was that they should foil Indra's attempt to extinguish the fire.
Asvatthāman also has not told his companions to kill those who might try to run away from the camp. In fact he boasts that no one will escape him. He may have, however, expected Krpa and Kịtavarman to stop any one who tried to enter the camp to help those inside it.
Madhu Vidyā/417