Sanjaya said "Through fear of the Parthas, O descendant of Kuru, Ashvatthaman could not perform such a fear then! It was for the absence of the Partha and the intelligent Keshava as also of Satyaki, that Drona's son could achieve it.
संजय उवाच तेषां नूनं भयान्नासौ कृतवान् कुरुनन्दन। असांनिध्याद्धि पार्थानां केशवस्य च धीमतः॥ सात्यकेश्चापि कर्मेदं द्रोणपुत्रेण साधितम्।