Drona kills all 3 of Drishtdyumn’s sons which enrages Drupad. Drupad and Virata aim at Drona who fights as never before. Drona casts a gleaming javelin, striking Drupadthrough his heart killing him instantaneously. Virata is killed too then Dhrishtadyumna plunges at Drona. Krishna hinted to Yudhisthira that Drona would give up his arms if his son Ashwatthama was dead. Bhima then proceeds to kill an elephant named Ashwatthama and loudly proclaims that Ashwatthama was dead.
Drona didn’t believe him but rather approached Yudhisthira to seek the truth of his son’s death as Drona knew that Yudhishtra could never lie. Yudhishtra was a man of dharma that his chariot never touched the ground, but always rode four fingers above it. Yudhisthira proclaimed AshwathamaHatahath, NaroVaKunjaroVa, implying Ashwathama had died but it was an elephant, The latter part of his proclamation were drowned out by sound of the conch blown by Krishna intentionally and a different version of the story is that Yudhisthira pronounced the last words so feebly that Drona could not hear the word elephant. Prior to this incident, the chariot of Yudhisthira, proclaimed as Dharma raja (King of righteousness), hovered a few inches off the ground. After the event, the chariot landed on the ground as he half-lied.
Drona was disheartened, and laid down his weapons. He was then killed by Dhristadyumna to avenge his father’s death and satisfy his vow.
By: Archa Dave
