O foremost one of Yadu's race, in exchange for that celestial weapon, give me thy discus which is capable of slaying all foes in battle
Krishna said gods, danavas, gandharvas, birds and men assembled together, are not equal to even a hundredth part of his energy. Krishna said to Ashwathama that he can take any weapons from him without giving any other weapon in exchange.
Gods, danavas, gandharvas, men, birds and snakes, assembled together, are not equal to even a hundredth part of my energy. I have this bow, this dart, this discus, and this mace. I will give thee whichever amongst these thou desirest to have from me.
Ashwathama said he wants the disc and Krishna told him to take it. Ashwatthama suddenly rose and tried to seize the discus with his left hand. He failed to even move the weapon. 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. Exhausted he withdrew from it.
Thus addressed, he rose suddenly and seized the discus with his left hand. He failed, however, to even move the weapon from the spot on which it lay. He then made preparations for seizing it with his right hand. Having seized it then very firmly and having put forth all his strength, he still failed to either wield or move it. At this, Drona's son became filled with sorrow.
Krishna told Ashwatthama than even his best friend Arjuna never spoke these words to him. Krishna said that he performed rigorous penance on Himalayas with Rukmimi to obtain a son named Pradyumna, who is as energetic as Sanatkumara. Even he never asked him his divine discus. His elder brother Balarama or his son Samba also never said such words. So Krishna asked Ashwathama for the purpose of obtaining the Sudharshana Chakra.
Rama of great might never said such words to me! Neither Gada nor Samba has ever asked that of me which thou hast asked! No one among the other great car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka race residing in Dvaraka has ever asked this of me which thou hast asked! Thou art the son of the preceptor of the Bharatas, thou art held in high respect by all the Yadavas. Let me ask thee, O foremost of car-warriors, with whom wouldst thou fight using this weapon?
Ashwatthama replied that he wants his discus to fight with Krishna himself and become invincible after obtaining it. Having failed, he realized that only Krishna is capable of wielding the Sudharshana Chakra. Ashwatthama then took many horses, wealth and diverse kinds of gems and left Dwaraka.
Thus addressed by me, Drona's son replied, saying, "After offering worship to thee, O Krishna, it was my intention to fight thee, O thou of unfading glory! It was for this, O Krishna that I solicited thee for thy discus which is adored by gods and danavas. If I had got it I would then become invincible in the world. Having failed, O Keshava, in obtaining my almost unattainable wish, I am about to leave thee, O Govinda! Address me in fair words now. This terrible weapon is held by thee that art the foremost of all terrible persons. Unrivalled art thou for this weapon! There is none else in this world capable of possessing it."
Having said these words unto me, the son of Drona, taking many couples of steeds and much wealth and diverse kinds of gems, left Dvaraka.
Ref: The Mahabharata Book 10: Sauptika Parva Section 12
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Footnotes