Hearing this, an invisible being in the skies said, “As the voice of this child was like that of a horse and as it has been heard over a great distance. He will be known by the name of Ashvathama, (the horse voiced). The son of Bharadvaja was exceedingly glad by obtaining the son.
तच्छ्रुत्वान्तर्हितं भूतमन्तरिक्षस्थमब्रवीत्। अश्वस्येवास्य यत् स्थाम नदतः प्रदिशो गतम्॥ अश्वत्थामैव बालोऽयं तस्मान्नाम्ना भविष्यति। सुतेन तेन सुप्रीतो भारद्वाजस्ततोऽभवत्॥