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10. Sauptika Parva
The Book of the Sleeping Warriors · 18 adhyayas
The darkest parva. The dying Duryodhana makes Ashwatthama his commander. That night Ashwatthama, with Kripacharya and Kritavarma, falls upon the sleeping Pandava camp and kills everyone in it, including Draupadi's five sons. He looses the Brahmastra at Uttaraa's unborn child; Krishna saves the child — Parikshit — and curses Ashwatthama to wander for ages.
Key Episodes
- Ashwatthama made commander, and the night attack
- Draupadi's five sons killed in their sleep
- The deaths of Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi
- The Brahmastra loosed at Uttaraa's unborn child
- Krishna saving Parikshit in the womb
- Ashwatthama cursed to wander deathless