Sauptika Parva — Krishna's curse on Ashvatthaman, he accepts the curse and give up the gem of his head. Pandavas return to Draupadi.

Vaishampayana said “Knowing that weapon was thrown into the wombs of the Pandava women by Drona's sinful son, Hrishikesha, with a cheerful heart, said these words of him:-'Seeing Virata's daughter who is now daughter-in-law to Arjuna, while she was at Upaplavya, a certain pious Brahmana said, while the Kuru line will became extinct, a son will be born to you. This your son, for the reason, will be called by the name of Parikshit.

The words of that pious man shall be fulfilled. The Pandavas shall have a son called Parikshit.'

While Govinda, that foremost one of the Satwata race, saying these words, Drona's son, filled with anger, replied, saying,-"This, O Keshava, which you say from your partiality for the Pandavas, shall never take place. O you having eyes like lotus petals, my words cannot but be fulfilled.

Taken up by me, this weapon of mine shall fall on the foetus that is in the womb of Virata's daughter,—which, O Krishna, you are so desirous of protecting.'

Krishna said The fall of this mighty weapon will not be useless. The foetus will die. But being dead, it will revive and have a long life.

As regards yourself, all wise men know you as a coward and a sinful wretch. Always engaged in sinful deeds, you are the slayer of children. Therefore, you must have to bear the fruit of your sinful deeds.

For three thousand years you shall have to wander over this earth, without a companion and without being able to talk with any one.

Alone, and without any one with you, you shall wander through various countries, O wretch, you shall have to live out side the pale of human society. The stench of puss and blood shall come out from your body, and you shall live in dense forest and dreary moors. Thou shall wander over the earth, O sinful wight, suffering from all diseases.

Coming of age and acquiring a knowledge of the Vedas, the heroic Parikshit, shall obtain all weapons from the son of Sharadvat.

Having acquired all knowledge of all high weapons and observing all Kshatriya duties, that righteous king shall rule the earth for sixty years.

Moreover, that boy shall become the powerful king of the Kurus, known by the name of Parikshit, before your very eyes, O wicked man.

Thought burnt by the energy of your weapon's fire, I shall revive him. O lowest of men, witness the power of my austerities and my truth.'

Vyasa said Since, obeying us, you have committed this highly cruel act, and since your conduct is such, although you are a good Brahmana by birth, therefore, those excellent words that Devaki's son had said, will, forsooth, be fulfilled regarding you, because you are living the life of a Kshatriya.'

Ashvatthaman said was With yourself among all men, O Rishi, I shall reside. Let the words of this illustrious and foremost of men prove true.'

Having made over his gem to the great Pandavas, Drona's son cheerlessly proceeded, in their presence, to the forest.

The Pandavas, who had killed all their foes, put Govinda and the Krishna-Dvaipayana and the great ascetic Narada at their head, and taking the gem that born with Ashvatthaman, quickly returned to the intelligent Draupadi who was observing the Praya vow."

Vaishampayana said “Those foremost of men, borne by their excellent horses, quick-coursing like the wind, came back with Dasharha hero, to their encampment.

Quickly getting down from their cars, those great car-warriors, themselves much more afflicted, saw Draupada's daughter Krishna stricken with misery.

Approaching the cheerless princess laden with sorrow and grief, the Pandavas with Keshava, sat round her.

Then the powerful Bhimasena, desired by the king, gave that celestial gem to her and said these words: 'This gem, O amiable lady, is yours. The slayer of your sons had been defeated. Rise, shake off your sorrow, and recollect the duties of a Kshatriya lady.

O you of black eyes, when Vasudeva was about to start (from Upaplavya.) on his mission of pace, you had said these words to the slayer of Madhu.

I have no husbands. I have no sons, nor brothers. Nor are you alive, O Govinda, since the king seeks peace.

Those bitter words were addressed by you to Krishna, that foremost of persons. You should recollect these words that were so consistent with Kshatriya usages.

The wretched Duryodhana, that thorn in the way of our sovereignty, has been killed. I have quaffed the blood of the living Dusshasana.

We have satisfied the debt we owed to our enemy! People, will not able to blame us any longer! Having defeated Drona's son, we have released him for his being a Brahmana and for the respect that should be shown to our deceased preceptor.

His faine has been spoiled, O goddess, only his body remains! He has been divested of his gem and on earth he has been deprived of his gem and on Earth he has been deprived of his weapons.

Draupadi said I desired only to satisfy our debt for the injury we have suffered. The preceptor's son deserves my respect as the preceptor himself.

Let the king put this gem on his head, O Bharata!'-The king then, taking that gem, placed it on his head, as desired by Draupadi and taking it as a gift from the preceptor.

Holding on his head that excellent and celestial gem, the powerful king shone like a mountain with the moon above it.

Though laden with grief for the death of her sons, the princess Draupadi, possessed of great mental strength, gave up her vow. Then king Yudhishthira enquired of the powerful Krishna, saying the following words.