Sarpasatram 1- aswathamah

Aswathamah finished chanting the Brahmatsra mantra panting Shot the arrow at the little blossom Still unborn in Uttara's bosom. He saw Arjuna rushing in with Krishna on his heels Shooting Brahmastra again To defend his progeny. Krishna stood stupefied: if the arrows meet, an infernal fire will result That would swallow the entire universe So powerful is the Brahmastra. 'Withdraw it! ' shouted he at both The warriors. Arjuna withdrew it In a wink. But Aswathamah refused, 'I'm ready to face it, come what may'. Krishna's prayers were granted Brahma let the child live. The astra recoiled at the shooter; inflicted A wound that never heals. Down came a curse from the skies Crimson with blood, 'Aswathamah, Your wound bleeding, you would Live till all the worlds perish.' Aswathamah remained unfazed For he had seen both the worlds Born to a Brahmin, his childhood Was a life of acute deprivation A childhood of perennial starvation And days of extreme humiliation Penance and prayers did him little To console and sate his hunger His father Drona, too un-brahmin like, An adept archer, master of all divine astras, Trained by Parasuram, was anointed Guru of princes Pandavas and Kauravas. Dronacharya earned respect of all; had A life of repute in Hastinapura palace Like father like son, he wisely chose Friendship with Prince Duryodhan. Duryodhan became the king; Pandavas Exiled, declared war. Aswathamah, Drona and the Great Karna on his side The King thought himself invincible Aswathamah, when the war came Fought on the king's side valiantly. Injured, on his death bed, the king Appointed him commander of his army. And what army! A handful of Tired, injured, demoralized souls. He led them to the enemy camp Where the soldiers were asleep After eighteen days of fight And slew them all, including All the sons of the Pandavas And commander Dhrishtadyumna. Then he aimed his brahmasta At the unborn child of Abhimanyu And Uttara, the only hope for Pandavas. Their only progeny. Rest is history.