Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part D

Image Info: Ashwatthama, Image credit: Wikipedia

          Ashwatthama, also known as Drauni, is the son of Dronacharya and Kripi, and a character of the Indian epic Mahabharata. As a Chirianjivi, Ahwatthama was born with the jewel on his head that was told to have granted him power of all living things under human as well as protecting him from natural causes such as hunger, thirst, and fatigue.
           Ashwatthama, along with Krupa and Kritavarman, planned a mission to attack the camp of the Pandava brothers. With that being said, on one night, they all went on the raid together and ambushed the camp. However, instead of killing the Pandava brothers, Ashwatthama mistakenly kills Draupadi’s brother and her five sons, Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Shrutakarma, Satanika, and Shrutasena.
          The next day, the Pandava brothers returned to a camp bathed in blood and found the lifeless bodies of Draupadi’s five sons and her brother. Hearing the news about the deaths of her sons and brother, Draupadi demands for revenge. With that being said, as for the revenge of the death of her sons and her brother, Draupadi weeps to her husbands bitterly and orders them to bring her the head of Ashwatthaman. However, Yudhishthira soothes Draupadi and tells her that the greatest of gods would punish him for slaughtering her family. Still, angered by the pain of losing her sons and brother, Draupadi settled with the idea of seizing Ashwatthama‘ s great jewel as revenge for the slaughter of her family.
          After reading the story “Ashwatthaman’s Jewel” written by Donald A. Mackenzie, I thought that Draupadi acted impulsive and childish, demanding this and demanding that. With that being said, in my version of the story, I would like to change how Draupadi reacts to the deaths of her beloved sons and brother. Instead of being so bitter and crying hysterically, I would change her character to be more heartbroken, but still have the confidence that the deaths of her sons and brother would be avenge