Was Ashwatthama Scared of the Pandavas: A Complex Emotional Landscape in Mahabharata

In the epic struggle at Kurukshetra, the final day saw Bhima and Duryodhan engage in a fierce battle. The Kaurava king fell under the powerful attack by his cousin Bhima, leading to a decisive victory for the Pandavas. However, the relentless and skilled warriors Drona's son, Kritavarma, and Kripa remained, marking the last stand for the Kauravas. Despite these remaining warriors, Duryodhan had lost the battle, and the fate of the Kaurava king was sealed.

Although sharply exhausted and injured, Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, could not sleep due to his unquenched rage. One night, inspired by the cunning actions of an owl, Ashwatthama decided to take similar deceptive actions to eliminate the skilled and powerful Pandavas. The passage from Souptika Parva in Bibek Debroy's Mahabharat highlights Ashwatthama's contemplation:

The victorious Pandavs are incapable of being slain by me. They are powerful and full of enterprise. They are strikers who accomplish their purpose.

Against the sleeping Panchal brothers, Ashwatthama repaid their unprovoked attack by slaying their father and five sons. This action demonstrated his strategic prowess, but also the depth of his emotional turmoil.

Dhritrashtra was curious as to why Ashwatthama did not take this action earlier in the battle. Sanjay, the charioteer, explained the reason in Souptika Parva of Bibek Debroy's Mahabharat with the following lines:

This was certainly because of terror and fright. Drona's son could accomplish this deed because the Parthas, the intelligent Keshava and Satyaki, were not present. In their presence even the lord of the Maruts would have been unable to kill them.

These words illustrate the complex relationship between Ashwatthama and the Pandavas, revealing that his actions were not solely driven by fear, but rather by emotions such as anger, grief, and a desire for revenge. Despite his formidable skills, Ashwatthama's emotional state significantly influenced his decisions.

Following the Kurukshetra War, the aftermath was filled with devastation and loss. Ashwatthama's feelings were a mix of anger, grief, and desperation. His fearlessness on the battlefield was evident, but moments of vulnerability and isolation were also apparent. An act as significant as unleashing the Brahmastra against the Pandavas was less about fear and more about vengeance and the weight of his failures.

Despite his efforts and the dire consequences of his actions, Ashwatthama's attempts to defeat the Pandavas ultimately proved unsuccessful. As a result, he faced a terrifying encounter with Dhritrashtra, which led to a curse and an eternal state of suffering. This curse has become an enduring symbol of the tragic and complex emotional journey of Ashwatthama in the Mahabharata, marking his legacy as a characterized figure who is neither wholly villain nor entirely hero.

Conclusion

Ashwatthama's relationship with the Pandavas is one of the most intriguing aspects of the Mahabharata. While he may not have been scared of them in the conventional sense, his actions throughout the epic were deeply influenced by a range of emotions, including anger, grief, and the weight of his failures. The choices he made, such as taking the owl's example to eliminate the sleeping Panchal brothers, reflect a complex emotional landscape that has captivated generations of readers and scholars.