Sauptika Parva in Mahabharata

The Sauptika Parva, meaning the Book of the sleeping Warriors, is the tenth book of the 18 books of Mahabharata. It consists of two upaparvas and 18 chapters. The Sauptika Parva focuses on the revenge of Ashvatthama, Krtavarma, and Krpacharya on the remaining Pandava army, after the end of the war. The two upaparvas are:

1. Sauptika Parva
2. Aishika Parva

The summary of the Sauptika Parva is:

After seeing the Duryodhana left in a dying condition by the Pandava brothers, Ashvatthama decided to take revenge against the Pandava brothers. Towards the end of the day, Ashvatthama, Krtavarma and Krpacharya reached the army camp of the Pandavas and hid in the forest. Deep into the night when all the Pandavas soldiers were asleep after the long and tiring war, Ashvatthama was not getting sleep as he desperately wanted to take revenge. He suggested the idea of killing all of the soldiers in their sleep. Krpacharya and Krtavarma were highly against the idea as it was morally and ethically incorrect. They were trying all they could so that Ashvatthama could change his mind, as it revenge had clouded his judgment. He was persisting on executing his idea as he believed that even the Pandavas had used unfair means to kill his father. Krpacharya was trying to convince him to wait for the morning and face them in war. However, his determination was unstoppable and he to the Pandava army camp followed by Krtavarma and Krpacharya followed him.

The door of the Pandavas army camp was being protected by some guards. Ashvatthama got rid of those guards using the help of a boon by Shiva. However, he had wasted all of his weapons on those guards. Then, he used a divine sword given to him by Lord Shiva. Ashvatthama went inside and told Krpacharya and Krtavarma to guard the door and kill anyone who escaped from him inside the camp. Ashvatthama then entered into the camp and killed all of the sleeping soldiers of the Pandavas army. However, the Pandava brothers, along with Lord Krishna and Satyaki were not present inside the camp. So, the Pandavas were left with 7 survivors, while the Kauravas were left with 3. He then came out and told the other two that he successfully fulfilled his vow given to Duryodhana. The three of them then went back to Duryodhana and Ashvatthama narrated the entire incident to the dying Duryodhana. Duryodhana was rejoiced to hear this and he died smiling.

The charioteer of Dhrshtadyumna informed about the heinous act of Ashvatthama to Yudhishthira the next day. Yudhishthtira’s son had also die as he was present in the camp. He was grieved at the destruction and especially the death of his son. He called for Draupadi and gave her the harsh news. Bhima got filled with rage to see Yudhishthira and Draupadi in distress and he wanted to destroy Ashvatthama at once.

They found him and Ashvatthama released all his divine weapons to attack the Pandava brothers. To counter his divine weapons, Arjuna used his weapons of Brahma. Towards the end of the fight Ashvatthama accepted defeat and gave up the gem on his head. That gem was his source of power and his blessings from Shiva.