SUPTIK PARV

Sauptik Parv: Summary

"Then shall I describe the Parv called Sauptik of frightful incidents. On the Pandavs having gone away, the mighty charioteers, Kritavarman, Kripa, and the son of Dron, came to the field of battle in the evening and there saw king Duryodhan lying on the ground, his thighs broken, and himself covered with blood. Then the great charioteer, the son of Dron, of terrible wrath, vowed, 'without killing all the Panchalas including Drishtadyumna, and the Pandavs also with all their allies, I will not take off armour.' Having spoken those words, the three warriors leaving Duryodhan's side entered the great forest just as the sun was setting. While sitting under a large banian tree in the night, they saw an owl killing numerous crows one after another.

At the sight of this, Aswatthaman, his heart full of rage at the thought of his father's fate, resolved to slay the slumbering Panchalas. And wending to the gate of the camp, he saw there a Rakshasa of frightful visage, his head reaching to the very heavens, guarding the entrance. And seeing that Rakshash obstructing all his weapons, the son of Dron speedily pacified by worship the three-eyed Rudra. And then accompanied by Kritavarman and Kripa he slew all the sons of Draupadi, all the Panchalas with Dhrishtadyumna and others, together with their relatives, slumbering unsuspectingly in the night.

All perished on that fatal night except the five Pandavs and the great warrior Satyaki. Those escaped owing to Krishna's counsels, then the charioteer of Dhrishtadyumna brought to the Pandavs intelligence of the slaughter of the slumbering Panchalas by the son of Dron. Then Draupadi distressed at the death of her sons and brothers and father sat before her lords resolved to kill herself by fasting. Then Bhim of terrible prowess, moved by the words of Draupadi, resolved, to please her; and speedily taking up his mace followed in wrath the son of his preceptor in arms. The son of Dron from fear of Bhimsen and impelled by the fates and moved also by anger discharged a celestial weapon saying, 'This is for the destruction of all the Pandavs'; then Krishna saying. 'This shall not be', neutralised Aswatthaman's speech. Then Arjun neutralised that weapon by one of his own.

Seeing the wicked Aswatthaman's destructive intentions, Dwaipayana and Krishna pronounced curses on him which the latter returned. Pandava then deprived the mighty warrior-in-chariot Aswatthaman, of the jewel on his head, and became exceedingly glad, and, boastful of their success, made a present of it to the sorrowing Draupadi. Thus the tenth Parv, called Sauptik, is recited. The great Vyas hath composed this in eighteen sections. The number of shloks also composed (in this) by the great reciter of sacred truths is eight hundred and seventy. In this Parv has been put together by the great Rishi the two Parvs called Sauptik and Aishik.

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