Ashvatthama invoked the most powerful astra in his arsenal. It was called Narayanastra, presided over by Lord Vishnu. The army of the Pandavas gripped by a strange fear. No one could think of how to avoid or counter this dreadful weapon. Even Arjuna was helpless, for once, Yudhisthira said that he was responsible for all the sinful acts committed in the war like felling of his grandfather Bhishma by deceit,now killing of his teacher Drona. Yudhisthira wanted to be killed by the formidable Astra,and he asked all his warriors to go back to their countries and not to suffer on his account.

Krishna was watching all this. He told Yudhisthira not to be despaired, nor was he to feel guilty on account of whatever might have taken place during the war. He could not have had control over all these things. Then Yudhisthira asked if there was any way out of this terrible astra sent by Ashvatthama. Krishna smiled and said that Narayanaastra was familiar to him. A way out to keep oneself out of the harms was to lay down one's arms and surrender before the astra. The more one resisted and tried to defy the astra, the more strongly it will hit. The entire army of the Pandavas put their arms down and prostrated themselves before the mighty astra. They escaped any harm by the astra.

Only Bhima, stood defiantly swinging his mace. The astra started towards him.Arjuna snatched his mace and Krishna took Bhima under his shadow. The fury of the astra abated and it went back.

Looking at this spectacle the most disappointed person was Duryodhana. The all-powerful astra did not kill even a single person of the Pandavas side. But Ashvatthama was very high spirited. He was very proud that everyone had to surrender to him. Thus admitting defeat. Duryodhana was not to be satified by such moral and spiritual victory. He asked the son of his guru to invoke the astra again. But, Ashvatthama said that it was not possible, as the astra would now kill their soldiers. The hopes of Duryodhana were dashed. He was very sullen and gloomy. The war ended for the fifteenth day. The Kauravas were downhearted and gloomy at the killing of their commander Drona and failure of the astra.