सौप्तिक पर्व — कृष्ण सहित पाण्डव भीम के पीछे जाते हैं; उनके रोकने पर भी वे नहीं रुकते; अश्वत्थामा व्यास के साथ बैठे मिलते हैं; अश्वत्थामा ब्रह्मशिर अस्त्र छोड़ते हैं और अर्जुन अपना…

Vaishampayana said After the brave Bhimasena had started, that Yadu hero, having eyes like lotus petals, addressed Kuru's son, Yudhishthira, saying,-O son of Pandu, beside himself with grief at the death of his sons, this brother of yours, goes alone to battle for killing son of Drona.

O Bharata chief, of all your brothers, Bhima is dearest. Seeing him in a great danger, why do you not stir yourself.

The weapon, called Brahmashira, which Drona, gave his son, is capable of consuming the whole world.

Pleased with Dhananjaya, the illustrious preceptor, that foremost of all wielders of bows, and given him that very weapon.

His only son also then begged it of him. Unwillingly he communicated the knowledge of that weapon to Ashvatthaman.

The illustrious Drona knew very well the restlessness of his son, and accordingly commanded him, saying,-~Even when overtaken by the greatest calamity, O child, in the midst of battle, you should never use this weapon, specially against men.

Thus the preceptor Drona spoke to his son. Some time after he again spoke, saying,-O foremost of men, it seems, you will not, follow the path of the righteous.

Hearing those bitter words of his father the wicked Ashvatthaman, giving up all hopes of prosperity, began to wander sorrowfully over the Earth.

Then, O Kuru chief, while you were living in the forest, he came to Dwaraka and lived there, adored of the Vrishnis.

One day, after he had settled in Dwaraka, he came to me, alone when I mysclf was also alone on the sea-coast, and there smilingly said, O Krishna, that weapon, called Brahmashira adored of gods and Gandharvas, which my father the preceptor of the Bharatas, having prowess capable of being baffled, had obtained from Agastya after practising the severest penances, is now with me, as it is with my father.

O foremost one of Yadu, in exchange for that celestial weapon, give me your discus which is capable of killing all enemies in battle.

While with joined hands he thus begged of me my discus, myself, for pleasing him, told him these words,-Gods, Danavas, Gandharvas, men, birds and snakes, assembled together, cannot equal even a hundredth part of iny energy

I have this bow, this arrow, this discus, and the mace! I will give you whichever amongst them you wish to have from me.

Without giving me the weapon you wish to give, take from among these weapons of mine that which you will be able to wield and use in battle.

Thus addressed, the illustrious son of Drona, as if challenging me, wanted my discus of excellent have and hard as thunder, having thousand spokes, and made of iron.

I said to him take it. Thus spoken to, he rose all on a sudden and seized the discus with his left hand.

He could not, however, even move the weapon where it lay. He then tried to catch it with his right hand.

Having caught it then very firmly and displaying all his strength, he still failed to either wield or move it. At this, Drona's son became sorry. Being worn out with the exertions he stooped.

When he ceased cherishing that desire i addressed the anxious and senseless Ashvatthaman and said,-He who is always known as the best of all men that holder of Gandiva, that warrior having white horses yoked to his car, that hero having the emblem of a monkey of his standard, that hero who, desirous of defeating a wrestling encounter the god of gods, viz., the blue-throated lord of Uma, pleased the great Shankara himself, that Phalguna than whom I have no dearer friend on Earth, that friend to whom there is nothing that I cannot give including my very wives and children, that dear friend Partha of pure deeds, never said to me, O Brahmana, such words as these which you have said.

That son whom I got by practising ascetic penances and observing the austere Brahmacharya for twelve years on the Himavat where I had gone for the purpose, that son of mine, viz., the energetic Pradyumna a portion of Sanatkumara himself, begotten by me upon my wife Rukmini who had practised vows as austere as mine, that hero even never wanted this best of objects, viz., this peerless discus, which you foolish, as you are have wanted.

The highly powerful Rama never said such words to me! Neither Gada nor Shamva, have ever asked for this.

None among the other great car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka race living in Dwaraka has ever asked this of me.

You are the son of the preceptor of the Bharatas, you are esteemed by all the Yadavas! Let me ask you, O best of car-warriors, with whom do you wish to fight with this weapon?'

Thus addressed by rne, Drona's son replied, saying,-'After adoring you O Krishna, it was my desire of fight with you, you of unfading glory.

It was for this, O Krishna, that I prayed for your discus which is worshipped by gods and Danavas! Had I got it I would then have become invincible in the world.

Having failed, O Keshava, to my almost unattainable desire, I wish to leave you, O Govinda! Address me plainly now.

This terrible weapon is with you, who are the foremost of all terrible persons! You are unrivaled for this weapon. There is none else in this world capable of having it.'

Having said so the son of Drona taking many horses and much wealth and various kinds of gems, left Dvaraka.

He is wrathful, wicked, restless, and very cruel. He knows the use of the weapon called Brahmashira. Vrikodara should be saved.”