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Kshamapana at midnight, after the victory of the Pandavas, Ashvatthama came secretly and brutally killed Draupadi's five sons. The ocean of victory turned into deep lamentation. Instead of cheering, loud wailing was heard on all sides. Seeing this cruel killing of her sons, Draupadi often became unconscious and fell on the ground. Bhima and Arjun ran to arrest Ashvatthama, the killer that had got away. They arrested him from a wild jungle and presented him before Draupadi.
Shri Krishna said to Draupadi, “This is the killer of your sons. What should be the punishment for his crime ? A single blow of Bhima's mace or Arjun's weapon can separate, can remove his head off his trunk. How shall we punish him?"
Draupadi burst into tears. The murder of her five sons had filled her heart with pain. She sobbed and said, “How terrible is the pain of a son's loss! I actually have experienced the same pain. I don't wish that his mother should experience the pain. Don't kill him. How agonizing is the pain of a mother's heart! I won't have Ashvatthama's mother experience the pain. Release him."
Formal Forgiveness (Dravya Kshama)
And Ashvatthama, the murderer, was released. This is the grandeur of forgiveness. The animosity and retaliation in our heart should be tranquilized before we ask forgiveness. He, who becomes tranquilized, deserves to be propitiated. This means that you cannot practise spiritual austerities before asking forgiveness. We often make errors and develop animosities in life. If our hand touches someone and we say 'Sorry', or conventionally post a card of forgiveness, it is a formal forgiveness. Such formal forgiveness is a matter of
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