SÅ«ta said: Hearing UttarÄ’s words, Kṛṣṇa, affectionate to his devotees, understood that AÅ›vatthÄmÄ had released a brahmÄstra to rid the world of the PÄṇá¸avas.
Purport
Asvatthama wanted to make the world (idam) without the Pandavas (apandavam).