What are some unknown facts about Ashwatthama in the Mahabharata?

 

1. Ashwatthama was the unified incarnation of four deities Lord Shiva, Yama, Kama and Krodha.
2. Ashwatthama neighed like Indra's horse Ucchaihshrava when he was born to Drona's wife Kripi.
3. Ashwatthama received the knowledge of Narayanastra from his father Drona.
4. Ashwatthama was the first warrior ever who cut the string of Gandiva bow. He achieved the feat in the fight with Arjuna in Virat war.
5. The flagpole of Ashwatthama's chariot was marked by the symbol of lion's tail.
6. Ashwatthama was a Maharatha as stated by Bhishma in Mahabharata.
7. Ashwatthama killed notable Pandava warriors like Nila, Vriddhakshatra, Sudarshana and Malayadwaja.
8. Ashwatthama defeated foremost Pandava warriors like Bhima, Satyaki, Dhristadyumna and Shikhandi.
9. Ashwatthama killed Ghatotkacha's son Anjanaparva on the 14th night.
10. Ashwatthama killed one Akshauhini of demons on the 14th night. Those demons were Paulomas and Yatudhanas who fought for the Pandava side.
11. Ashwatthama invoked Narayanastra upon the Pandava army on the 15th day to avenge his father Drona's death.
12. Ashwatthama invoked another lethal weapon Agneyastra on the 15th day and killed one Akshauhini of Pandava soilders.
13. Ashwatthama was instated as the Kourava commander by Kripa after the conclusion of Kurukshetra war.
14. Ashwatthama received a scimitar from Lord Shiva when he approached the Pandava camp to kill the remaining warriors.
15. Ashwatthama fired Brahmastra and killed the foetus inside Uttara's womb. However Lord Krishna invoked his power of austerities and gave new life to the foetus.
16. Ashwatthama was cursed by Lord Krishna to live for three thousand years in the forests.

What are the battles or incidents where Bhima and Ashwatthama faced off, and what do they reveal about their skills as warriors?

 Both Bhimasena and Ashwathama are powerful warriors .

They had come face to face many times but only two times proper duel has taken place .

• Bhimasena :-

“ Bhimasena , O king , is regarded equal to eight Rathas . In an encounter with mace or even arrows , there is none equal to him . Endued with the strength of ten thousand elephants , and filled with pride , in energy he is superhuman . “ - Bhishma Pitahma .

1. Bhima saved Shakhandi from Ashwathama on 8th day .
2. Bhima knocked down Drona unconscious in front of Ashwathama .
3. Bhima killed two Kaurava brothers Dushkarna and Durmada in front of Ashwathama .
4. Bhima challenged all Kuru warriors including Ashwathama to save Dushashana but no one could .

• Ashwathama :-

“ The mighty archer Drauni Ashwathama is a superior archer . Acquainted with all modes of warfare , and of unbaffled weapons , he is a Maharatha . Like Gaandivadhari , shafts of this warrior , shot from his bow , proceed in continuous line , touching one another . If he wishes it , this Maharatha is capable of consuming three worlds . Engaged in austerities in his hermitage , he had increased both his fury and energy . Possesed of intelligence , he had been favoured by Drona with all celestial weapons . There is , however , O bull of Bharata race , one great defect in him , in consequence of which , O best of kings , I do not regard him either a Ratha or a Maharatha . This regenerate man is fond of living , life being very dear to him . Among the warriors of both armies no one can be regarded his peer . On a single chariot , he can annhilate the very army of celestials . Possessed of strong frame , he can split the very mountains by the flaps of his bow-string , striking against the lethern fence on his left arm . Endued with innumerable qualities , this smiter of fierce effulgence , will wander over battlefield , incapable of withstood like Yama himself , mace in hand . Resembling the fire at the end of Yuga as regard to his fury , possessed of leonine neck , and endued with great lustre , Ashwathama will extinguish the embers of this battle between Bharatas . “ - Bhishma Pitahma .

1. Ashwathama killed an akshohini army of Ghatotkacha and killed Anjanparva and almost killed Ghatotkacha infront of Bhima .
2. His Narayanastra almost killed Bhima and Sri Krishna and Dhananjaya Partha saved him .
3. His Agneyastra almost killed him and destroy whole Pandava army and may be whole world but Arjuna saved them by countering it with a lower Brahmastra .
4. Bhima went against Ashwathama on 19th day after their children were killed but Ashwathama attacked Bhimasena with Brahmastra and Arjuna again took the lead .

Their Battles :=

• On 15th day :-

On 15th day after the death of Drona their was a heated argument in Pandava army while Kauravas under Ashwathama were raylling again and seeing Arjuna proclaimed Ashwathama’s prowess and claimed that he was going to cause a great carnage , Bhima criticises his brother and went to fight Ashwathama , Drauni releases Narayanastra which kills an akshouhini Pandava army and almost kills Bhima , before Sri Krishna and Arjuna save him , after Ashwathama fight with Pandava warriors and is seen besting them , he defeats Dhristadyumna , Satyaki and Bhima , and killed Paurava Vidrakshatra , Malava Sudarshan and prince of Chedi , at last he fights with Arjuna , duel seems equal for some time , after that Guruputra invokes Agneyastra which puts whole world in danger which was countered by Arjuna through a Brahmastra but the ripple effect from it destroys another akshouhini soldiers .

This was it happened :

This was a clear victory of Ashwathama and a very pathetic defeat of Bhimasena .

• On 16th day :-

On 16th day they fought again and this the battle between them was legendary , the siddhas , charanas and other warriors opined that other battles there were not even 16th part of that battle . “Excellent Bhimasena , Excellent Drauni” , they exclaimed .

This battle was extremely great and it turned out to be stalemate .

So , in conclusion there are two battles between Ashwathama and Bhimasena where Ashwathama is seen to have an edge on Bhima .

What does it reveal it about their skills as a warrior :-

• Inconsistent vs Consistent :-

Ashwathama seems to have more skill in archery and was a superior warrior but was very much inconsistent while Bhima was an all-rounder who consistently better his skills and extremely consistent performer . Bhima learned chariot fighting , sword fighting and mace fighting by Balramji again . He improved his archery skills in vanvaas . If you have heard that tortoise and rabbit story in childhood then Ashwathama is rabbit and Bhima is tortoise , Ashwathama was great but he many times tried shortcuts like by emotional blackmailing his father or trying to ask Sudarshana Chakra in dana due to Sri Krishna’s respect for Brahmanas .

• Bravery vs Cowardice :-

Ashwathama was a overall brave but he has also commited some of the gretaest level of cowardice in his life while Bhima sometimes had to retreat or run away but he always shown the greatest amount of bravery , Bhima and Ashwathama both proclaimed that they will kill a person who has wronged them in brutal manner , in the case of Bhima it was Dushashana while in the case of Drauni it was Dhristadyumna , one did it bravely in front of all warriors challenging that if they can save him , other did covertly in a coward’s route . As Bhishma Pitahma said that he cannot regard Ashwathama a Ratha let even a Maharatha due to his lust for long life , there was nothing wrong in it but there are some standards to be called a Ratha , Maharatha and Atiratha . Bhima on the other hand was regarded as a superhuman as per Mahamahim .

• Righteous fury vs Unrighteous anger :-

Bhima and Ashwathama were known for their anger but for way different reasons , one let his righteous anger lead him to guide towards justice another let his anger make him commit one of the most heneous crime ever , one punished a monster another became a monster . Bhima killed Dushashana as per his oath , it may seem cruel but in context of warfare it was completely justified but Ashwathama on the other hand was so much confused in rage that he killed a literal unborn baby through a higher Brahmastra . While Bhima is an inspiration , Ashwathama was a warning regarding how to deal with anger .

Lastly I will conclude Ashwathama was more skilled , had better divyastras and was more dangerous , Bhimasena was more consistent , brave and determined . Most importantly , Bhimasena was more righteous .

“ Will must be stronger than skill .” - Proved by our beloved Bhimasena .

Har Har Mahadeva .

Jai Maa Durga .

Is it true that Ashwatthama wanted the Sudarshana Chakra of the Lord Krishna?

 Yes. This is true.

Ashwatthama asked for Krishna's Sudarshan chakra in exchange for his Brahmashira

He came to Dvaraka and was supremely honoured by the Vrishnis. While he dwelt in Dvaravati, he once came to me, while I was alone along the shores of the ocean. He smiled and told me, ‘O Krishna! My father, the preceptor of the Bharatas, has given the weapon named brahmashira to me. It was obtained by Agastya, for whom truth was his valour, after performing the fiercest of austerities. It is worshipped by the gods and the gandharvas. O Dasharha! It is with me now, as it used to be with my father. O supreme among the Yadu lineage! I will give that divine weapon to you, if you give me the chakra weapon in return, one that is capable of destroying enemies in battle.’ O king! He affectionately joined his hands in salutation and addressed these words to me. O bull among the Bharata lineage! He carefully sought that weapon from me.

Ashwatthama tried to take the Sudarshan chakra but was unable to even move it

At this, I asked him to take the chakra. He violently seized the chakra with his left hand. O one without decay! However, he was incapable of moving it from its spot. He then attempted to seize it with his right hand. He made every kind of effort and tried every means to grasp it. But though he used all his strength, he was incapable of raising it or moving it. Drona’s evil-minded son made the supreme of efforts. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Exhausted, he then desisted.

Ashwatthama accepted that no one other than Krishna can wield the chakra

O Krishna! O great one! After worshipping you, it was my intention to fight with you. That is the reason I desired the chakra, worshipped by gods and danavas. O lord! Had I obtained it, I would have become invincible. I tell you this truthfully. O Keshava! That is the truth. I have not obtained that extremely rare object of desire. O Govinda! I am about to depart. Speak auspicious words to me now. You are a bull among the Vrishnis and you wield this chakra, with the excellent nave. There is no one on earth who can receive this chakra.

• Source - 1295 (12), Aishika parva, Mahabharata.