Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.7.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAśvatthāmā Flees in Fear
“Aśvatthāmā, the murderer of the princes, seeing from a great distance Arjuna coming at him with great speed, fled in his chariot, panic stricken, just to save his life, as Brahmā fled in fear from Śiva.”
What the purport teaches
- Aśvatthāmā, the murderer of the princes, sees Arjuna approaching rapidly and flees to save his life.
- The purport explains that the reading kaḥ refers to Brahmā, who fled when Śiva attacked him with his trident.
- The alternative reading arkaḥ refers to the sun-god. The Vāmana Purāṇa describes his flight from Śiva and his fall at Kāśī.
Try this today
Reread the translation and identify what Aśvatthāmā fears and what he wants to protect.
Ask yourself
What does Aśvatthāmā’s panic reveal about his condition at this moment?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.