The Massacre
“In the darkest hour of the war, sleeping warriors are attacked, and the massacre that gives Sauptika Parva its name unfolds with devastating tragedy.”
Contains: Massacre, Tragic deaths, Violence against sleeping warriors, Loss of innocent lives, Dark themes, Mature content
Story Summary
The night attack begins as Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma enter the sleeping Pandava camp. The Upapandavas—Draupadi's five sons—are slain while sleeping, unable to defend themselves. Dhrishtadyumna, the commander who killed Drona, meets the same fate. Shikhandi, who helped kill Bhishma, is also killed in his sleep. Other warriors fall as the three attackers move through the camp, striking at sleeping, defenseless targets. This is the central tragedy of Sauptika Parva—the 'Book of the Sleepers'—where warriors are killed not in honorable battle, but in their sleep, completely vulnerable and unable to defend themselves. The massacre shows the devastating consequences of revenge and the moral complexity of attacking the defenseless.