The wrath of Ashvatthaman

Sanjaya said Hearing that his father has been slain by underhand means by Dhristadyumna of sinful deeds, Drona's son became filled, O foremost of men, with tears as well as with (extreme) rage.

Inflamed as he was with rage, his body, O monarch, appeared to burn like that of the Destroyer himself when at the expiration of a Yuga, he engages himself in slaughtering created beings.

Then repeatedly wiping off his eyes shedding copious tears and breathing in rage, he said these words unto king Duryodhana.

I have been apprised of the fact, how my father was slain after he laid his weapons aside; I have also known how a sinful act has been committed by those who boast of hoisting the standard of virtue.

I have also heard of the vile and ruthless act of the very virtuous king Yudhishthira. Surely either victory or its reverses will fall to the lot of those who engage in fight. Death in battle is ever esteemed. The death overtaking one engaged in fight under fair rules of combat.

Should not become a source of grief, as been observed by the sages. My father, without doubt, has gone to the posthumous regions of the heroes.

I should not lament for that foremost of men as he had undergone the most excellent from of death. But when fighting fairly, he was seized by the hair.

Before the eyes of all the troops; this humiliation that he sustained is biting me to the very quick. Whilst I live, my sire was seized by the hair.

Why then should sonless men wish to obtain sons (who can help them in no way)? Moved by lust or wrath or ignorance or hatred or levity.

Men perpetrate acts opposed to morality or to humiliate others. This most sinful act has been committed by the son of Prisata.

Of wicked soul and ruthless heart, in utter disregard of myself. Dhristadyumna shall behold the dreadful consequences of his act.

As also the prevaricating sons of Pandu, who have perpetrated a sinful act. He that caused by an underhand underhand measure, the preceptor to lay aside his weapon.

The blood of that son of Dharma the earth shall drink today. I swear by my truth, O foremost of the Kurus, as also by the religious merits acquired by my Istha and Purtha acts.

That I shall drag on my burden some existence without slaying the Panchalas to the last men. Having re-course to all measures, I shall contend against the Panchalas in great battle,

Either by hook or crook or by violent or mild measures I will achieve the slaughter of Dhristadyumna of evil deeds in battle.

() ruler of the Kuru, exterminating the Panchalas, I shall regain my peace of mind. O foremost of men, people desire to have children.

In order that these latter may free them from great danger here and hereafter. But my sire was reduced to a woeful plight like one helpless.

While myself his son and disciple, equal to a mountain (in mighty) am still alive. Fie on my weapons of celestial make, fie on my arms, fie on my prowess.

Inasmuch as getting me for his son, Drona had to suffer the indignity of being seized by the hair. O foremost of the Bharatas, I shall therefore so exert myself that.

I may be free from the debt I still owe to my sire who has proceeded to Heaven. A noble person never indulges in his own praise;

But incapable of tolerating the slaughter of my sire, I shall today untter my own praises-Let the Pandavas with Janardana at their head today behold my prowess.

As I grind all creatures like the Destroyer himself at the hour of Dissolution. Neither the gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Asuras, nor the reptiles, nor the Rakshasas.

Will be able today to conquer me as I shall ride on my car, O foremost of men. There is none in the world superior to me or Arjuna in the knowledge of weapons.

Today at the heart of the hostile troops, like the sun in the midst of scorching rays, I shall discharge my celestial weapons.

In today's mighty battle, shafts shot furiously from by bow will crush and mangle the Pandavas, showing their great energy.

My troops shall today bchold the quarters of the compass, shrouded with sharp-winged shafts, as if O king, by shower of rain.

Shooting on all sides shafts of dreadful whirl, I shall fell my foes like the mighty tempest uprooting the trees.

Neither Vibhatsu, nor Janardana, Bhimasena, nor the twins, (Nakula and Sahadeva), nor king Yudhishthira, nor Prisata's son of wicked soul, Sikhandin, nor Satyaki, even know the weapon which I possess, O nor foremost of the Kurus, with the mantras for hurling and withdrawing it.

Formerly on one occasion, disguised as a Brahmana, Narayana, came to my father; whereupon my father bowing down unto him presented him offerings in due course and from.

Accepting those offerings that possessor of the six illustrious qualities (the Bhagas) desired to accord a boon to my sire. Thereupon my father asked the boon of getting that most excellent weapon called Narayana.

Thereupon that foremost of all gods, that possessor of the six divine qualities said unto him, O king, “No man shall ever be a match for you in battle.

But, O Brahmana, this weapon should not be used without sufficient deliberation, for it never returns without dispatching the foc at whom it is hurled.

O Lord, I know not whom it may not slay. It will even effect the death of him who is unslayable. Therefore it should not be used hastily.

When one abandons his car on weapons in battle or implores for mercy or surrenders himself.

O afflicter of your foes, these are the occasions when this mighty weapon, should not be used. He that wants to afflict the unslayable by this weapon himself becomes afflicted by it.

My puissant father then received that weapon. The lord then thus spoke to me also. "You shall destroy many showers of celestial weapons.

By means of this weapon and you shall blaze forth in effulgence by its virtue." Having thus spoken that Divine Lord ascended to heaven.

This is history how my father obtained the Narayana weapon from the god. With the aid of this weapon, I shall crush the Pandavas, the Panchalas, the Matsyas and the Kaikayas in battle like the husband of Sachi crushing the Asuras. Assuming those particular forms which I shall desire them to assume, my arrows.

Will fall upon my foes contending vigorously in battle. Staying in battle I shall shower weapons as it lists men to do.

I will rout the foremost of car-warriors with sky-ranging arrows furnished with iron tips. I will certainly hurl battle axes, bludgeons and various other kinds of weapons.

An afflicter of foes as I am, with the aid of that Narayana weapon, I shall destroy the foes, completely crushing the Pandavas.

That disgrace to the Panchala race, that contemner of his friends, the Brahmanas and his preceptor, that odious fellow of vilest conduct, shall not escape me alive today.

Hearing those words of Drona's son, the army rallied; all foremost of warriors therein blew their mighly conches.

Delightedly they began to strike up the Bheris and Dindimas by thousands; the earth then struck with the hoops of horses and whecls of car, rang out loudly.

That tremendous din resounded through the welkin. the heavens and the earth. Then hearing that sound that resembled the rumble of rain-clouds, the Pandavas.

Those foremost of car-warriors, uniting together began to consult. The son of Drona aiso, O Bharata, having spoken in the above manner, washed his mouth with water and then invoked into existence that celestial weapon known by the name of Narayana.