Mb111. Aswatthama Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

The Pandavas' great victory,
Turned into the worst tragedy,
They lost overnight Upapandavas
Shikandin, Dhristadyumna and others.

Inconsolable was Draupadi's grief.
Aswatthama came like a thief.
He killed her brothers and sons.
Why? She committed what sins?

Her tears shook Bhima's heart.
"Wherever he's, I'll find out,
This is my vow. I'll see he's dead."
He wiped out her tears and said.

Pandavas and Krishna located,
There Aswatthama was seated
Where Veda Vyasa stayed.
They bowed Vyasa and prayed.

Bhima shouted, "You murderer
What're you doing here?
You, the foulest of the Brahmins,
How can you cover your sins? "

Aswatthama took a grass.
He whispered some mantras.
"May this destroy Pandavas."
He gave them this curse.

The missile blazed forth fire.
That threw everyone in fear.
Krishna at once cautioned them,
It was meant to destroy them.

To counter it Krishna gave advice,
Arjuna to deploy another device.
Brahma Astra Arjuna threw.
As Vyasa ordered, he withdrew.

As Aswatthama didn't know,
How his missile to withdraw,
It went to Uttara's womb-child,
That was first to be killed.

Krishna saved the child,
Parikshit was this child.
Aswatthama was spared.
But his ego was killed.

They demanded his gem
He surrendered it to them.
Draupadi got it from Bhima,
But she gave it to Yudhishthira.