The Ashvatthama Incarnation: Drona's Son in the Bharata War

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.36.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ शिवस्य परमात्मनः । अवतारं शृणु विभोरश्वत्थामाह्वयं परम्

nandīśvara uvāca sanatkumāra sarvajña śivasya paramātmanaḥ avatāraṁ śṛṇu vibhoraśvatthāmāhvayaṁ param

Nandishvara said: "O all-knowing Sanatkumara, hear now the supreme avatara of the Lord, Shiva, known as Ashvatthama."

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.36.2)

बृहस्पतेर्महाबुद्धेर्देवर्षेरंशतो मुने । भरद्वाजात्समुत्पन्नो द्रोणोऽयोनिज आत्मवान्

bṛhaspatermahābuddherdevarṣeraṁśato mune bharadvājātsamutpanno droṇo'yonija ātmavān

From a portion of Brihaspati, the great-wise seer of the gods, O sage, Drona was born to Bharadvaja — not born of a womb, and self-possessed.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.36.3)

धनुर्भृतां वरः शूरो विप्रर्षिः सर्वशास्त्रवित् । बृहत्कीर्तिर्महातेजा यः सर्वास्त्रविदुत्तमः

dhanurbhṛtāṁ varaḥ śūro viprarṣiḥ sarvaśāstravit bṛhatkīrtirmahātejā yaḥ sarvāstraviduttamaḥ

Foremost among wielders of the bow, valiant, a brahmin-sage, versed in every science; of vast renown and great splendor, the supreme master of every weapon.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.36.4)

धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च निष्णातं यं विदुर्बुधाः । वरिष्ठं चित्रकर्माणं द्रोणं स्वकुलवर्धनम्

dhanurvede ca vede ca niṣṇātaṁ yaṁ vidurbudhāḥ variṣṭhaṁ citrakarmāṇaṁ droṇaṁ svakulavardhanam

Whom the learned knew as accomplished equally in the science of the bow and in the Veda; most excellent, a worker of wondrous deeds, Drona, who increased his own lineage.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.36.5)

कौरवाणां स आचर्य आसीत्स्वबलतो द्विज । महारथिषु विख्यातः षट्सु कौरवमध्यतः

kauravāṇāṁ sa ācarya āsītsvabalato dvija mahārathiṣu vikhyātaḥ ṣaṭsu kauravamadhyataḥ

O brahmin, by his own strength he became the teacher of the Kauravas, renowned among the six great chariot-warriors in the midst of the Kauravas.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.36.6)

साहाय्यार्थं कौरवाणां स तेपे विपुलं तपः । शिवमुद्दिश्य पुत्रार्थं द्रोणाचार्यो द्विजोत्तमः

sāhāyyārthaṁ kauravāṇāṁ sa tepe vipulaṁ tapaḥ śivamuddiśya putrārthaṁ droṇācāryo dvijottamaḥ

For the sake of helping the Kauravas, and desiring a son, that foremost of brahmins, Acharya Drona, performed vast austerity directed toward Shiva.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.36.7)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवाच्छङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः । आविर्बभूव पुरतो द्रोणस्य मुनिसत्तम

tataḥ prasanno bhagavācchaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ āvirbabhūva purato droṇasya munisattama

Then, O best of sages, the Lord Shankara, well pleased and ever the cherisher of devotees, appeared before Drona.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.36.8)

तं दृष्ट्वा स द्विजो द्रोणस्तुष्टावाशु प्रणम्य तम् । महाप्रसन्नहृदयो नतकः सुकृताञ्जलिः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sa dvijo droṇastuṣṭāvāśu praṇamya tam mahāprasannahṛdayo natakaḥ sukṛtāñjaliḥ

Seeing him, that brahmin Drona bowed at once and praised him, his heart filled with the deepest joy, head bowed low, hands folded in reverence.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.36.9)

तस्य स्तुत्या च तपसा सन्तुष्टः शङ्करः प्रभुः । वरं ब्रूहीति चोवाच द्रोणं तं भक्तवत्सलः

tasya stutyā ca tapasā santuṣṭaḥ śaṅkaraḥ prabhuḥ varaṁ brūhīti covāca droṇaṁ taṁ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Satisfied by his praise and austerity, the Lord Shankara, cherisher of devotees, said to Drona, "Ask for a boon."

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.36.10)

तच्छ्रुत्वा शम्भुवचनं द्रोणः प्राहाथ सन्नतः । स्वांशजं तनयं देहि सर्वाजेयं महाबलम्

tacchrutvā śambhuvacanaṁ droṇaḥ prāhātha sannataḥ svāṁśajaṁ tanayaṁ dehi sarvājeyaṁ mahābalam

Hearing Shambhu's words, Drona, bowing low, then said: "Grant me a son born of your own portion, unconquerable by all, and of immense strength."

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.36.11)

तच्छ्रुत्वा द्रोणवचनं शम्भुः प्रोचे तथास्त्विति । अभूदन्तर्हितस्तात कौतुकी सुखकृन्मुने

tacchrutvā droṇavacanaṁ śambhuḥ proce tathāstviti abhūdantarhitastāta kautukī sukhakṛnmune

Hearing Drona's words, Shambhu said, "So be it"; and then, O sage, that playful, joy-giving Lord vanished from sight.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.36.12)

द्रोणोऽपगच्छत्स्वं धाम महाहृष्टो गतभ्रमः । स्वपत्न्यै कथयामास तद्वृतं सकलं मुदा

droṇo'pagacchatsvaṁ dhāma mahāhṛṣṭo gatabhramaḥ svapatnyai kathayāmāsa tadvṛtaṁ sakalaṁ mudā

Drona, greatly delighted and now free of doubt, returned to his own home, and joyfully told his wife the whole account.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.36.13)

अथावसरमासाद्य रुद्रः सर्वान्तकः प्रभुः । स्वांशेन तनयो जज्ञे द्रोणस्य स महाबलः

athāvasaramāsādya rudraḥ sarvāntakaḥ prabhuḥ svāṁśena tanayo jajñe droṇasya sa mahābalaḥ

Then, awaiting the right moment, Rudra, Lord and ender of all things, was born, by his own portion, as Drona's mighty son.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.36.14)

अश्वत्थामेति विख्यातः स बभूव क्षितौ मुने । प्रवीरः कञ्जपत्राक्षः शत्रुपक्षक्षयङ्करः

aśvatthāmeti vikhyātaḥ sa babhūva kṣitau mune pravīraḥ kañjapatrākṣaḥ śatrupakṣakṣayaṅkaraḥ

He became renowned upon the earth, O sage, as Ashvatthama — a foremost hero, lotus-petal-eyed, a destroyer of the ranks of his enemies.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.36.15)

यो भारते रणे ख्यातः पितुराज्ञामवाप्य च । सहायकृद् बभूवात कौरवाणां महाबलः

yo bhārate raṇe khyātaḥ piturājñāmavāpya ca sahāyakṛd babhūvāta kauravāṇāṁ mahābalaḥ

He who became renowned in the Bharata war, and, on receiving his father's command, became a mighty helper of the Kauravas.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.36.16)

यमाश्रित्य महावीरं कौरवाः सुमहाबलाः । भीष्मादयो बभूवुस्तेऽजेया अपि दिवौकसाम्

yamāśritya mahāvīraṁ kauravāḥ sumahābalāḥ bhīṣmādayo babhūvuste'jeyā api divaukasām

Relying on that great hero, the mighty Kauravas, Bhishma and the rest, became unconquerable even by the dwellers of heaven.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.36.17)

यद्भयात्पाण्डवाः सर्वे कौरवाञ्जेतुमक्षमाः । आसन्नष्टा महावीरा अपि सर्वे च कोविदाः

yadbhayātpāṇḍavāḥ sarve kauravāñjetumakṣamāḥ āsannaṣṭā mahāvīrā api sarve ca kovidāḥ

For fear of him, all the Pandavas — great heroes and men of learning though they were — proved unable to conquer the Kauravas.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.36.18)

कृष्णोपदेशतः शम्भोस्तपः कृत्वातिदारुणम् । प्राप्य चास्त्रं शम्भुवराज्जिग्ये तानर्जुनस्ततः

kṛṣṇopadeśataḥ śambhostapaḥ kṛtvātidāruṇam prāpya cāstraṁ śambhuvarājjigye tānarjunastataḥ

On Krishna's counsel, having performed the most severe austerity to Shiva, and having obtained a weapon by Shambhu's own boon, Arjuna then conquered them.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.36.19)

अश्वत्थामा महावीरो महादेवांशजो मुने । तथापि तद्भक्तिवशः स्वप्रतापमदर्शयत्

aśvatthāmā mahāvīro mahādevāṁśajo mune tathāpi tadbhaktivaśaḥ svapratāpamadarśayat

O sage, Ashvatthama, that great hero born of a portion of Mahadeva, nevertheless — bound by his devotion to Shiva — displayed his own might.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.36.20)

विनाश्य पाण्डवसुतान् शिक्षितानपि यत्नतः । कृष्णादिभिर्महावीरैरनिवार्यबलः परैः

vināśya pāṇḍavasutān śikṣitānapi yatnataḥ kṛṣṇādibhirmahāvīrairanivāryabalaḥ paraiḥ

Having slain the sons of the Pandavas, though they had been carefully trained by great heroes like Krishna — he whose might could not be checked by others —

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.36.21)

पुत्रशोकेन विकलमापतन्तं तमर्जुनम् । रथेनाच्युतवन्तं हि दृष्ट्वा स च पराद्रवत्

putraśokena vikalamāpatantaṁ tamarjunam rathenācyutavantaṁ hi dṛṣṭvā sa ca parādravat

— seeing Arjuna, distraught with grief for his sons, bearing down on him in his chariot together with Achyuta, he then took to flight.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.36.22)

अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम तदुपर्यसृजत्स हि । ततः प्रादुरभूत्तेजः प्रचण्डं सर्वतो दिशम्

astraṁ brahmaśiro nāma taduparyasṛjatsa hi tataḥ prādurabhūttejaḥ pracaṇḍaṁ sarvato diśam

He then released upon him the weapon called Brahmashira; and at once a fierce radiance blazed forth in every direction.

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.36.23)

प्राणापदमभिप्रेक्ष्य सोऽर्जुनः क्लेशसंयुतः । उवाच कृष्णं विक्लान्तो नष्टतेजा महाभयः

prāṇāpadamabhiprekṣya so'rjunaḥ kleśasaṁyutaḥ uvāca kṛṣṇaṁ viklānto naṣṭatejā mahābhayaḥ

Seeing the danger to his very life, that Arjuna, overcome with anguish, his own splendor dimmed, spoke to Krishna in great fear.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.36.24)

अर्जुन उवाच । किमिदं स्वित्कुतो वेति कृष्ण कृष्ण न वेद्म्यहम् । सर्वतोमुखमायाति तेजश्चेदं सुदुस्सहम्

arjuna uvāca kimidaṁ svitkuto veti kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa na vedmyaham sarvatomukhamāyāti tejaścedaṁ sudussaham

Arjuna said: "What is this, Krishna, Krishna, and whence does it come? I do not know. This unbearable radiance is bearing down from every direction."

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.36.25)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । श्रुत्वार्जुनवचश्चेदं स कृष्णः शैवसत्तमः । दध्यौ शिवं सदारं च प्रत्याहार्जुनमादरात्

nandīśvara uvāca śrutvārjunavacaścedaṁ sa kṛṣṇaḥ śaivasattamaḥ dadhyau śivaṁ sadāraṁ ca pratyāhārjunamādarāt

Nandishvara said: Hearing these words of Arjuna, Krishna, that foremost devotee of Shiva, meditated upon Shiva together with his consort, and respectfully answered Arjuna.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.36.26)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । वेत्थेदं द्रोणपुत्रस्य ब्राह्ममस्त्रं महोल्बणम् । न ह्यस्यान्यतमं किञ्चिदस्त्रं प्रत्यवकर्शनम्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca vetthedaṁ droṇaputrasya brāhmamastraṁ maholbaṇam na hyasyānyatamaṁ kiñcidastraṁ pratyavakarśanam

Shri Krishna said: "Do you know what this is? This is Drona's son's terrible Brahma-weapon — there is no other weapon at all that can counter it."

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.36.27)

शिवं स्मर द्रुतं शम्भुं स्वप्रभुं भक्तरक्षकम् । येन दत्तं हि ते स्वास्त्रं सर्वकार्यकरं परम्

śivaṁ smara drutaṁ śambhuṁ svaprabhuṁ bhaktarakṣakam yena dattaṁ hi te svāstraṁ sarvakāryakaraṁ param

"Swiftly remember Shiva, Shambhu, your own Lord, the protector of his devotees; for it was by him that this supreme, all-accomplishing weapon was given to you."

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.36.28)

जह्यस्त्रतेज उन्नद्धं त्वं तच्छैवास्त्रतेजसा । इत्युक्त्वा च स्वयं कृष्णः शिवं दध्यौ तदर्थकः

jahyastrateja unnaddhaṁ tvaṁ tacchaivāstratejasā ityuktvā ca svayaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ śivaṁ dadhyau tadarthakaḥ

"Destroy this swelling radiance of the weapon with the radiance of that very weapon of Shiva." So saying, Krishna himself, for that same purpose, meditated upon Shiva.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.36.29)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कृष्णवचनं पार्थः स्मृत्वा शिवं हृदि । स्पृष्ट्वापस्तं प्रणम्याशु चिक्षेपास्त्रं ततो मुने

tacchrutvā kṛṣṇavacanaṁ pārthaḥ smṛtvā śivaṁ hṛdi spṛṣṭvāpastaṁ praṇamyāśu cikṣepāstraṁ tato mune

Hearing Krishna's words, and remembering Shiva in his heart, Partha touched water, bowed swiftly to him, and, O sage, then released his own weapon.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.36.30)

यद्यप्यस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्त्वमोघं चाप्रतिक्रियम् । शैवास्त्रतेजसा सद्यः समशाम्यन्महामुने

yadyapyastraṁ brahmaśirastvamoghaṁ cāpratikriyam śaivāstratejasā sadyaḥ samaśāmyanmahāmune

Though the Brahmashira weapon is unfailing and irresistible, O great sage, it was instantly stilled by the radiance of Shiva's own weapon.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.36.31)

मा मंस्था ह्येतदाश्चर्यं सर्वचित्रमये शिवे । यः स्वशक्त्याखिलं विश्वं सृजत्यवति हन्त्यजः

mā maṁsthā hyetadāścaryaṁ sarvacitramaye śive yaḥ svaśaktyākhilaṁ viśvaṁ sṛjatyavati hantyajaḥ

Do not think this any wonder in Shiva, who is filled with every marvel — he who, unborn, by his own power creates, sustains, and destroys this whole universe.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.36.32)

अश्वत्थामा ततो ज्ञात्वा वृत्तमेतच्छिवांशजः । शैवं न विव्यथे किञ्चिच्छिवेच्छातुष्टधीर्मुने

aśvatthāmā tato jñātvā vṛttametacchivāṁśajaḥ śaivaṁ na vivyathe kiñcicchivecchātuṣṭadhīrmune

Ashvatthama, that portion of Shiva, then, understanding this whole event, felt not the slightest distress from Shiva's own weapon — his mind, O sage, content with Shiva's will.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.36.33)

अथ द्रौणिरिदं विश्वं कृत्स्नं कर्तुमपाण्डवम् । उत्तरागर्भगं बालं नाशितुं मन आदधे

atha drauṇiridaṁ viśvaṁ kṛtsnaṁ kartumapāṇḍavam uttarāgarbhagaṁ bālaṁ nāśituṁ mana ādadhe

Then Drona's son resolved to render this whole world free of Pandavas by destroying the child in Uttara's womb.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.36.34)

ब्रह्मास्त्रमनिवार्यं तदन्यैरस्त्रैर्महाप्रभम् । उत्तरागर्भमुद्दिश्य चिक्षेप स महाप्रभुः

brahmāstramanivāryaṁ tadanyairastrairmahāprabham uttarāgarbhamuddiśya cikṣepa sa mahāprabhuḥ

That mighty lord loosed the irresistible Brahma weapon, its splendor exceeding every other weapon, aimed at the unborn child in Uttara's womb.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.36.35)

ततश्च सोत्तरा जिष्णुवधूर्विकलमानसा । कृष्णं तुष्टाव लक्ष्मीशं दह्यमाना तदस्त्रतः

tataśca sottarā jiṣṇuvadhūrvikalamānasā kṛṣṇaṁ tuṣṭāva lakṣmīśaṁ dahyamānā tadastrataḥ

Then Uttara, Arjuna's daughter-in-law, her mind distraught, being scorched by that weapon, praised Krishna, the Lord of Lakshmi.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.36.36)

ततः कृष्णः शिवं ध्यात्वा हृदा नुत्वा प्रणम्य च । अपाण्डवमिदं कर्तुं द्रौणेरस्त्रमबुध्यत

tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ śivaṁ dhyātvā hṛdā nutvā praṇamya ca apāṇḍavamidaṁ kartuṁ drauṇerastramabudhyata

Then Krishna, meditating on Shiva in his heart, praising and bowing to him, perceived Drona's son's weapon, meant to render the line without Pandavas.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.36.37)

स्वरक्षार्थेन्द्रदत्तेन तदस्त्रेण सुवर्चसा । सुदर्शनेन तस्याश्च व्यधाद्रक्षां शिवाज्ञया

svarakṣārthendradattena tadastreṇa suvarcasā sudarśanena tasyāśca vyadhādrakṣāṁ śivājñayā

By Shiva's own command, with that most radiant weapon given by Indra for his protection — the Sudarshana — he shielded her.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.36.38)

स्वरूपं शङ्करादेशात्कृतं शैववरेण ह । कृष्णेन चरितं ज्ञात्वा विमनस्कः शनैरभूत्

svarūpaṁ śaṅkarādeśātkṛtaṁ śaivavareṇa ha kṛṣṇena caritaṁ jñātvā vimanaskaḥ śanairabhūt

Understanding that this deed had been done, at Shankara's own bidding, by him who was Shiva's own boon-born form, Krishna gradually grew downcast.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.36.39)

ततः स कृष्णः प्रीतात्मा पाण्डवान्सकलानपि । अपातयत्तदङ्घ्र्योस्तु तुष्टये तस्य शैवराट्

tataḥ sa kṛṣṇaḥ prītātmā pāṇḍavānsakalānapi apātayattadaṅghryostu tuṣṭaye tasya śaivarāṭ

Then Krishna, his heart full of affection, in order to satisfy that lord among Shiva's devotees, caused all the Pandavas to fall at his feet.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.36.40)

अथ द्रौणिः प्रसन्नात्मा पाण्डवान्कृष्णमेव च । नानावरान्ददौ प्रीत्या सोऽश्वत्थामानुगृह्य च

atha drauṇiḥ prasannātmā pāṇḍavānkṛṣṇameva ca nānāvarāndadau prītyā so'śvatthāmānugṛhya ca

Then Drona's son, his heart now at peace, graciously granted many boons, with love, to the Pandavas and to Krishna, showing favor as Ashvatthama.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.36.41)

इत्थं महेश्वरस्तात चक्रे लीलां परां प्रभुः । अवतीर्य क्षितौ द्रौणिरूपेण मुनिसत्तम

itthaṁ maheśvarastāta cakre līlāṁ parāṁ prabhuḥ avatīrya kṣitau drauṇirūpeṇa munisattama

Thus, dear one, O best of sages, the great Lord Maheshvara performed this supreme divine sport, descending to the earth in the form of Drona's son.

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.36.42)

शिवावतारोऽश्वत्थामा महाबलपराक्रमः । त्रैलोक्यसुखदोऽद्यापि वर्तते जाह्नवीतटे

śivāvatāro'śvatthāmā mahābalaparākramaḥ trailokyasukhado'dyāpi vartate jāhnavītaṭe

Ashvatthama, this avatara of Shiva, of immense strength and valor, the bestower of happiness upon the three worlds, remains even today upon the banks of the Ganga.

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.36.43)

अश्वत्थामावतारस्ते वर्णितः शङ्करप्रभोः । सर्वसिद्धिकरश्चापि भक्ताभीष्टफलप्रदः

aśvatthāmāvatāraste varṇitaḥ śaṅkaraprabhoḥ sarvasiddhikaraścāpi bhaktābhīṣṭaphalapradaḥ

This avatara of Lord Shankara as Ashvatthama has now been described to you; it grants every accomplishment, and bestows upon devotees the fruit they desire.

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.36.44)

य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या कीर्तयेद्वा समाहितः । स सिद्धिं प्राप्नुयादिष्टामन्ते शिवपुरं व्रजेत्

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā kīrtayedvā samāhitaḥ sa siddhiṁ prāpnuyādiṣṭāmante śivapuraṁ vrajet

Whoever hears this with devotion, or recites it with a composed mind, attains the desired accomplishment, and in the end goes to Shiva's own abode.