Day 15: The Elephant Named Ashwatthama

Drona is still taking too many of the Panchalas. Krishna tells the Pandavas the teacher will not be beaten while he believes his son alive. Bhima kills an elephant that happens to be named Ashwatthama.

Asked, Yudhishthira says the name, then the word elephant, low. Drona hears the first word from the one man he will believe. He lays the bow down and sits in yoga. Dhrishtadyumna, born for this, takes the head.

Ashwatthama the son hears how the name was used. The night after the eighteenth day is already seeded here.

Source notes

Mahabharata, Drona Parva, Ganguli. Last reviewed 12 September 2026.