Ashvatthama's Night Raid

Ashvatthama's Vow of Vengeance

दुर्योधनः भूमौ पतितः — अश्वत्थामा तत्र आगतः। तस्य पिता मृतः — तस्य मित्रम् मरणासन्नः। अश्वत्थाम्नः हृदये महाक्रोधः जातः। "धृष्टद्युम्नः पितरम् अधर्मेण मारितवान् — सोऽपि मरिष्यति।" कृपः — "वत्स! एतत् अधर्मः। सुप्तान् न हनन्ति।" अश्वत्थामा — "अहम् प्रतिशोधाय प्रतिज्ञातवान्।" रात्रौ — त्रयः — अश्वत्थामा कृपः कृतवर्मा च — पाण्डवशिबिरस्य अभिमुखं अगच्छन्। पाण्डवाः कुरुक्षेत्रे — शिबिरे उपापाण्डवाः सुप्ताः।

Duryodhana had fallen — Ashvatthama arrived. His father was dead — his friend was dying. A great rage arose in Ashvatthama's heart. "Dhrishtadyumna killed my father without dharma — he too shall die." Kripa warned: "Child! This is adharma. One does not kill sleeping men." Ashvatthama: "I have made a vow of revenge." At night — three men — Ashvatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma — went toward the Pandava encampment. The Pandavas were at Kurukshetra — in the camp, the Upapandavas slept.