So many lives are lost on both sides in this final section during the Kurukshetra War. Ultimately, however, the Pandavas emerge victorious and gain control of the Kuru kingdom. One part of the ending that I took great interest in is the securing of an heir to the Kuru kingdom. Prior to the war, there were at least six potential heirs to the throne: the five Upapandavas and Abhimanyu. Given that each of the Pandavas had several wives (which they married to form alliances with other kingdoms), they likely had other sons, but it is assumed that these other sons had all perished in the war.
Ashwattama kills the five Upapandavas in their sleep. The Pandavas are angered by Ashwattama and battle him to take revenge. While Ashwattama is aiming his Brahmastra (a special weapon that will kill anyone whom the shooter desires to be killed, wherever they are located; Ashwattama knows how to shoot this arrow but does not know how to take it back) at one of the Pandavas, Bhima tells Ashwattama that he didn't kill all the heirs, as Uttaraa is carrying Abhimanyu's child.
Abhimanyu also died in the war; however, on the same day that he dies, Uttaraa (Abhimanyu's wife) discovers that she is pregnant with Parikshit. This pregnancy is not really known as it was discovered during the war, on the 13th day of the 18-day battle. After the war, the Pandavas become aware of Uttaraa's pregnancy.
While Duryodhana is lying on the battlefield in fatal condition, he refuses to die, as he is unsatisfied with the outcome of the war. Ashwattama wishes to see his friend die satisfied, so he tells him that he will kill the sons of the Pandavas to prevent the Kuru kingdom from having an heir.
Ashwattama, realizing that there was one heir remaining, aims his final arrow at Uttaraa's womb. However, Krishna manages to save Uttaraa from the Brahmastra by blocking it with Vishnu's chakra. Thus, the heir of the Kuru kingdom is secured. Parikshit later succeeds Yudhisthira as king, and his son Janamejaya continues the bloodline.
Bibliography: PDE Mahabharata, Written by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore, Link.
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