Ashvatthama said, “Sprung from Angirasa’s line, I am about to pour my soul, O god, as a libation on this fire!  Accept, O lord, this victim!  In this hour of distress, O Soul of the universe, I offer up my own self as the sacrificial victim, from devotion to thee and with heart concentrated in meditation!  All creatures are in thee and thou art in all creatures!  Assemblage of all high attributes occur in thee!  O lord, O thou art the refuge of all creatures.  I wait as a libation for thee, since I am unable to vanquish my foes.  Accept me, O god.”  Having said these words, Drona’s son, ascending that sacrificial altar on which a fire blazed brightly, offered himself up as the victim and entered that blazing fire.

Beholding him stand immovable and with uplifted hands and as an offering up to himself, the divine Mahadeva appeared in person and smilingly said, “With truth, purity, sincerity, resignation, ascetic austerities, vows, forgiveness, devotion, patience, thought, and word, I have been duly adored by Krishna of pure deeds.  For this there is none dearer to me than Krishna.  For honouring him and at his word I have protected the Pancalas and displayed diverse kinds of illusion.  By protecting the Pancalas I have honoured him.  They have, however, been afflicted by time.  The period of their lives hath run out.”

Having said these words unto the high-souled Ashvatthama, the divine Mahadeva entered Ashvatthama’s body after giving him an excellent and polished sword.  Filled by that divine being, Drona’s son blazed up with energy.  In consequence of that energy derived from godhead, he became all-powerful in battle.  Many invisible beings and rakshasas proceeded along his right and his left as he set out, like the lord Mahadeva himself, for entering the camp of his foes.”

8

Dhritarashtra said, “While Drona’s son, that mighty car-warrior, thus proceeded towards the hostile camp, did Kripa and Bhoja stop from fear?  I hope those two car-warriors checked by vulgar guards, did not fly away secretly, thinking their opponents irresistible?  Or, have they, after grinding the camp, the Somakas, and the Pandavas, followed, while still engaged in battle, the highly glorious path in which Duryodhana has gone?  Are those heroes, slain by the Pancalas, sleeping on the bare Earth?  Did they achieve any feat?  Tell me all this, O Sanjaya!”

Sanjaya said, “When the high-souled son of Drona proceeded towards the camp, Kripa and Kritavarma waited at the gate.  Beholding them ready to exert themselves, Ashvatthama became filled with joy, and addressing them whisperingly, O king, said, “If you two exert, you are competent to exterminate all the kshatriyas!  What need I say, therefore, of this remnant of the (Pandava) army, particularly when it is buried in sleep?  I shall enter the camp and career like Yama.  I am sure that you two will act in such way that no man may escape you with life.”