In Hindu mythology, Ashwatthama is the immortal warrior cursed to wander after the Kurukshetra War.
Ashwatthama is the son of Drona, the martial teacher of both the Pandavas and Kauravas. After Drona’s death, Ashwatthama becomes consumed by anger and seeks revenge. During a night attack, he kills sleeping warriors associated with the Pandava camp, including the sons of Draupadi in many tellings.
The act violates important rules of warfare because the victims are asleep and unprepared. Afterward, Ashwatthama confronts the Pandavas and uses a devastating divine weapon. Krishna condemns him and curses him to wander the earth for thousands of years, suffering from an unhealing wound.
His immortality is therefore a punishment rather than a reward. Accounts differ in details, but the curse and wandering are among Ashwatthama’s defining traditions.