Who is Ashwatthama?

The teacher’s son

Ashwatthama was the only son of Drona. He was born with a jewel on his forehead that protected him from hunger, weapons and sickness, and at birth he neighed like a horse, which is how he got his name. He grew up with the princes of Hastinapura, learned everything his father knew, and became one of the great warriors of the age, and a friend of Duryodhana.

His father loved him above everything. That love is what the Pandavas used to defeat Drona.

A son’s grief

During the war, the Pandavas let Drona believe Ashwatthama was dead, and while Drona sat stunned with grief, he was killed. When Ashwatthama learned how his father had died, he was consumed by rage.

How Ashwatthama’s story ends (spoilers)

On the last night of the war, with Duryodhana lying broken on the battlefield, Ashwatthama crept into the sleeping Pandava camp. He killed Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi and all five young sons of Draupadi. The Pandavas themselves were away.

When they caught up with him, he released a terrible divine weapon and turned it against the unborn child of Abhimanyu’s widow. Krishna brought the child back to life, and cursed Ashwatthama to wander the earth for three thousand years, alone and in pain. He was made to give up the jewel on his forehead. Many people believe he is wandering still.