159. Krishna Saves Pandavas From Ashwathama's Narayanastra

Recap of Previous Episode :

Ashwatthama confronts Duryodhana; Drona defends loyalty over righteousness.
Krishna plants the seed of doubt regarding Ashwatthama’s immortality.
On day fifteen, Drona invokes Brahmastra but withdraws it.
Bhima kills the elephant named Ashwatthama; Yudhishtra speaks the defining half-truth.
Drona lays down arms and is killed by Drishtadyumna, fulfilling destiny.

Ashwathama’s Agony and the Narayana Astra

Ashwathama hears of Drona’s fate from Dushasana and rushes to the battlefield. Seeing his father beheaded while unarmed and meditating, he is overcome with unbearable grief and fury. In blind rage, he invokes the terrifying Narayana Astra, directing it to annihilate the Pandavas and their armies.

Krishna immediately commands the Pandavas and their forces to drop their weapons and surrender completely, reciting the Narayana mantra.
The astra, which destroys only those who resist it, withdraws harmlessly and returns to Krishna.

Ashwathama accuses the Pandavas of treachery and adharma. Krishna consoles him gently, telling him Drona had consciously embraced death, renouncing the weapons of war: “To restore dharma, sometimes difficult choices must be made.”

Shakuni’s Trap and Krishna’s Clarification

Sensing an opportunity, Shakuni demands that the Pandavas be declared defeated since they bowed before Ashwathama. He urges Duryodhana to imprison them. Krishna laughs and clarifies that they bowed not to Ashwathama the warrior, but to Narayana, the divine power embodied in the Astra itself.

The Pandavas depart after paying respects from afar.

Tension in the Pandava Camp

The Pandavas attempt to approach the pyre of their fallen guru, but Ashwathama blocks them with bitter words and vows to kill Drishtadhyumna.

Arjuna, stung by Ashwathama’s taunts, rushes to strike Drishtadhyumna, but Draupadi steps forward, her voice blazing:
“Where was this rage when your wife was humiliated in the assembly?
Where was dharma then?
Why this sudden righteousness now?"

Her fierce words silence the warriors. Krishna supports Drishtadhyumna, reminding Arjuna that he acted to avenge both the dishonor of his father Drupada and the silent complicity of Drona during Draupadi’s humiliation.

Bhishma’s View and Acceptance

Krishna, Arjuna and Yudhishtra visit Bhishma and inform him of Drona’s death. Initially disturbed by the manner of his passing, Bhishma accepts it when he hears that Drona was preparing to unleash the Brahmastra against Arjuna. He sees it as Krishna Leela, a divine orchestration to protect dharma.

Karna Becomes Commander-in-Chief

With Bhishma and Drona gone, the Kauravas unanimously appoint Karna as commander-in-chief. Karna visits Gandhari to share the news; she blesses him warmly.

Kunti is present and silently overjoyed for him. Emotion overwhelms Karna as he receives her unspoken maternal affection. But the moment collapses when Draupadi, cold and scornful, mocks him for his birth and questions his worthiness as warrior.