As planned, Bheema wielded his mace and killed an elephant called Ashwatthama. He then cried out loudly, "I have killed Ashwatthama. Ashwatthama is dead."
Drona was shocked to hear these words. But he thought, "Can I believe Bheema? Perhaps he is telling a lie." Drona had faith in Yudhishthira's love for truth. So he asked Yudhishthira, "Is it true that my son Ashwatthama is dead?"
Yudhishthira was in a dilemma. He said to himself, "What should I do now? How can I tell a lie? But if I speak the truth, my entire army will be destroyed. Should I commit the sin of telling a lie? Or should I be responsible for the destruction of the entire Pandava army? I have to choose between dharma and the lives of the Pandava warriors."
Drona again said, "Yudhishthira! Why don't you answer.?"
