Sauptika Parva is the Book of the Sleeping Warriors continuing from with seventy eight to eighty sup parvas. It is the book of the three warriors who sided with the Kuaravas in the great Kurukshetra war. Ashvattama, Kripa and Kritavarma kill the remaining Pandava army in their sleep (sauptika). After their attack only seven warriors remained on the Pandava`s side.

The book Sauptika Parva describes about the three warriors Kritavarma, Ashvattama and Kripa. Kritavarma was a central Yadava warrior and chieftain. During the great battle at Kurukshetra, Kritavarma was an ally of the Kauravas against the Pandavas and lead the Yadava army. He was one of the three survivors of the entire Kaurava army and had helped Ashwatthama in carrying out his heinous night time massacre of Panchala warriors. In this incident it is narrated that Ashwatthama along with Kritavarma slaughtered Dhrishtadyumna, the Pandava commander-in-chief, Shikhandi and the five sons of Draupadi.

Kripa was the chief priest at the court of Hastinapura, according to the Sauptika Parva. His mastery in the great battle of Kurukshetra is also narrated. He was appointed to be the teacher and preceptor of Parikshita, the grandson of Arjuna. Kripa was considered to among one of the eight Chiranjivin.

In the epic Mahabharata, Ashwatthama was the son of Guru Dronacharya. He was also one of the seven Chiranjeevins. Ashwatthama obtained permission from the dying Duryodhana to brutally murder Dhrishtadhyumna after the war had officially ended. Ashwatthama was one of the three survivors of the Kaurava army with Kritavarma and Kripacharya. The valiant son of Drona formed the resolution of slaying during the night the slumbering Pandavas and the Pancalas.