[अश्वस्येव स्थाम बलमस्य, पृषोdenotes that the rest of the word under consideration is to be supplied समासः; Compare Mb. अश्वस्येवास्य यत्स्थाम नदतः प्रदिशो गतम् । अश्वत्थामैव बालोऽयं तस्मान्नाम्ना भविष्यति ॥]
Name of a celebrated Brāhmaṇa warrior and general on the side of the Kauravas, son of Droṇa and Kṛipī. [After the last great battle in which Duryodhana was mortally wounded, Aṣvatthāman, with two other surviving Kauravas, entered the Paṇdava camp at night, where he stamped Dhṛiṣṭadyumna, the slayer of his father, to death and killed the five young sons of Pāṇḍavas, killing even Parīkṣit while yet in the mother's womb who was, however, restored to life by Kṛiṣṇa. The next morning Draupadī clamoured for revenge upon the murderer of her children, but she consented to forego her demand for his blood if the precious jewel he wore on his head were brought to her. Bhīma, Arjuna, and Kṛiṣṇa overtook Aśvatthāman and compelled him to yield the jewel which, Yudhiṣṭhira afterwards wore on his head. He is represented as a very brave, fiery-tempered, young warrior, the embodiment of Brāhmanic and saintly lustre, and his altercation with Karṇa about the nomination of a general to succeed Droṇa clearly brings out the chief features of his character; see Ve. 3rd act. He is one of the 7 Chirajivins 'ever-living persons'.] Compare अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनूमांश्च विभीषणः । कृपः परशुरामश्च सप्तैते चिरजीविनः ॥
