Originally posted by: BrhannadaArmour
The Draupadeyas weren't minors; they were fully trained warriors. Aśvatthāman didn't kill them in their sleep. They woke up, heard that Aśvatthāman had killed Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and shot arrows at him, five against one.
Sauptikaparvan 8.45:
tena śabdena vitrastā dhanur-hastā mahārathāḥ
Dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ hataṃ śrutvā Draupadeyā viśāṃ pate
avākirañ śara-vrātair Bhāradvājam abhītavat
Disturbed by that noise, the great chariot-warriors, bows in hands, hearing that Dhṛṣṭadyumna was slain, lord of the Vaiśyas! the sons of Drupada's daughter fearlessly shot groups of arrows at the descendant of Bharadvāja.
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