Analysis on 13th day of Kurukshetra war and Abhimanyu's Valour

Abhimanyu

Overview

On the 13th Day the Kauryas decided to slay the Son of Subhadra by alluring Arjun away from the Chakravyu formation. Drona told Duryodhana that no one in the 3 worlds is capable of conquering or defeating Arjun as Arjun had even please Lord Shiva with his strength and Valour and the the only way to kill the Son of Subhadra would be take Arjun away from the conflict zone and make him fight with the Sampastaks 

Narrative

We will try again to trap Yudhiṣṭhira». Gradual maneuvering brought him toward the south, as Droṇa arranged the rest of the Kaurava forces into the chakravyuha. At its head stood Droṇa and his son, backed by many kings and their forces, who spread out behind him in a vast circle. As Droṇa closed on his foes, he let loose hundreds of winged arrows.

He had mentioned it to his brothers, but he had not told them the secrets he had learned from Droṇa. But Yudhiṣṭhira recalled Arjuna saying how he had once discussed the knowledge with Subhadrā and that Abhimanyu had overheard him speaking. O heroic prince, Droṇa surely intends to push through our forces with this unbreakable formation. Abhimanyu stood proudly in his chariot.

Yudhiṣṭhira reassured him. Hearing his uncles’ assurances, Abhimanyu became confident. Yudhiṣṭhira blessed the prince. Abhimanyu looked at the advancing Kauravas.

He ordered his charioteer,O Sumitra, urge the horses toward Droṇa’s divisions. Sumitra, the son of Kṛṣṇa’s charioteer, Dāruka, drove toward Droṇa. Droṇa is adept at all kinds of weaponry. Abhimanyu laughed.

The chariot raced toward Droṇa, with Abhimanyu firing volleys of arrows at him and all the warriors by his side. Seeing the standard bearing the karnikara tree, Droṇa recognized Arjuna’s son. Abhimanyu carefully directed Sumitra, and his chariot feinted from side to side as he came at an oblique angle toward the Kaurava ranks. Maintaining his fierce attack on Droṇa, he simultaneously hurled arrows at the warriors fighting at his sides and rear.

As they fell back under his assault, Abhimanyu suddenly veered away to the right. Stunning Droṇa with a hundred steel shafts, he raced past him and broke into the formation as the Kauravas looked on in amazement. Large numbers of elephant fighters, horsemen, charioteers and foot soldiers closed in around Abhimanyu, all roaring in delight. Subhadrā’s son began to cut down his foes with his arrows.

Abhimanyu ranged about slaughtering the Kaurava warriors by the hundreds of thousands. Abhimanyu quickly covered the earth with the bodies of slain warriors, like a priest laying kusha grass on the ground during a sacrifice. His arrows flew like streams of golden sunlight. Rather, as they approached him they were struck by dozens of his speeding arrows.

Reckless of his own safety, he rushed at Abhimanyu with a roar. Seeing this, Droṇa was alarmed and he shouted to the warriors around him,Save the king!Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Śakuni, Śalya, and another half dozen heroes all converged on Abhimanyu. The young prince was covered with a thick downpour of arrows. Spinning on the terrace of his chariot he countered the arrows with his own, as Sumitra maneuvered his chariot clear.

He pierced every one of his assailants with stinging arrows that could hardly be seen as they flew. The Kaurava warriors then attacked Abhimanyu on all sides. Taking careful aim, he sent a dozen arrows that broke apart the chariot of King Ashmaka, a powerful Kaurava ally. With a further six arrows he slew the king’s four horses, his charioteer, and the king himself.

Bearing the arrows like a mountain bears showers of rain, Abhimanyu sped at Karṇa a powerful arrow capable of piercing his armor. As the arrows struck Śalya, Abhimanyu spun around and released a dozen more at Aśvatthāmā. Droṇa’s son was rocked by their force and he squatted down on the terrace of his chariot. The Kauravas facing Abhimanyu fled in greater and greater numbers.

Śalya’s younger brother Madra, seeing Śalya afflicted by Abhimanyu, rushed angrily at him. Abhimanyu counterattacked Madra with long shafts that shattered his chariot and cut off his arms, legs and head simultaneously. As Madra fell dead from his chariot, thousands of soldiers in his army charged angrily at Abhimanyu. Subhadrā’s son met their attack with a deadly volley of arrows.

Droṇa could not conceal his admiration for Arjuna’s son.None can resist the angry Droṇa when he stands with his weapons in battle. Protected by Droṇa, Abhimanyu is able to exhibit his prowess. Dushashana rushed at Abhimanyu with a loud cry.

He fired a shower of arrows, decked with buzzard feathers, that covered Abhimanyu’s chariot. He fired at Abhimanyu arrows and darts that blazed brilliantly as they flew toward him. The Kauravas sounded all kinds of musical instruments and cheered as Dushashana pressed his attack on Abhimanyu. Holding off his opponent’s attack, Abhimanyu called out to him,By good luck I find before me a vain warrior of cruel deeds and lost righteousness--he who ever brays of his own prowess and knows only sinful deeds.

With joy you pierced Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma with your wicked words. In a matter of seconds Abhimanyu fixed an effulgent golden arrow on his bow and fired it with all his power. Abhimanyu struck him with a further twenty-five shafts that burned like fire. Seeing Dushashana overpowered, Karṇa came to challenge Abhimanyu, but he too could not defeat the young warrior.

Abhimanyu gradually forced him back with dozens of arrows. One of them rushed at Abhimanyu in a rage. He launched a hundred arrows at him and sent up his battle cry. Abhimanyu turned to face the impetuous warrior.

The young prince, whose mind was free from malice, struck Karṇa’s brother with thirty powerful arrows. As his antagonist fired back, Abhimanyu lopped off his head with a crescent-headed shaft. None of them were able to face Abhimanyu, who stood on the field like a blazing sacrificial fire. Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, the twins, Dṛṣṭadyumna, Drupada, Virata and other chiefs among the Pāṇḍavas had watched Abhimanyu break into the Kauravas’ midst.

Placing himself between them and the smashed vyuha, the Sindhu king attacked all of them with profuse arrows. Arjuna’s brothers could not overpower Jayadratha as they hurried to follow Abhimanyu. The Pāṇḍavas looked on helplessly as the chakravyuha closed, trapping Abhimanyu inside. A fight took place on the edge of the Kaurava formation, while Abhimanyu wrought havoc within it.

No one seemed able to stop Abhimanyu. Duryodhana himself had been stung by his shafts, and even Droṇa seemed unable to check him. As Duryodhana gazed at Abhimanyu hurtling among his forces like a fireball consuming everything in its path, Śakuni said,We will not be able to slay this prince by fair means. Hearing the suggestion, Karṇa said to Droṇa,O preceptor, tell us how to kill Abhimanyu».

Droṇa looked at Abhimanyu with respect and admiration. That slayer of hostile heroes is affording me great delight, even as he afflicts my limbs with his burning arrows. Droṇa lowered his head as he went on,There is, however, a way by which we may be able to overcome him. Droṇa knew his advice was not in keeping with the codes of combat, but there seemed no alternative.

Heavy-hearted, Droṇa prepared to attack Abhimanyu along with the other five Kaurava chiefs. The six Kauravas closed on Abhimanyu as he fended off their attack with his sword and shield. Realizing he was hemmed in, Abhimanyu suddenly leapt high into the air. Abhimanyu descended weaponless from the sky and picked up a chariot wheel.

Remembering how Kṛṣṇa had run at Bhīṣma holding a chariot wheel, he rushed at Droṇa. As the boy came rapidly toward them with the steel-rimmed wheel, Droṇa and Kṛpa broke it into many pieces with their arrows. Abhimanyu snatched up a heavy mace that lay near him and bounded toward Aśvatthāmā, whirling the mace over his head. With arrows protruding from every part of his body, Abhimanyu whirled about, wielding his mace.

Abhimanyu quickly brought down his mace from above his head and killed Durjaya’s four horses, pressing them into the earth. Abhimanyu ran straight at Durjaya. Abhimanyu, fatigued from his long fight against so many opponents, slowly rose to his haunches. Crushed by the blow, Abhimanyu dropped lifeless to the ground.

All around Abhimanyu was a scene of utter destruction. With joy, the Kaurava troops withdrew from the field, leaving Abhimanyu lying amid the carnage he had created. Hearing the Kauravas’ cheers, Yudhiṣṭhira could guess what had happened. His fears were confirmed as news of Abhimanyu’s death reached him.

Yudhiṣṭhira was distraught. Yudhiṣṭhira trembled. He had caused Abhimanyu’s death. Turning to his other brothers, Yudhiṣṭhira said,Subhadrā’s heroic son, having never shown his back in battle, has been slain. »

Although himself afflicted by grief, Yudhiṣṭhira tried to console his brothers and followers. Yudhiṣṭhira wept.Desiring to please me, the prince penetrated Droṇa’s array like a lion entering a herd of cattle. Yudhiṣṭhira held his head in his hands.

Abhimanyu had been a great favorite among them. Alas, beholding the incomparable Abhimanyu fallen to earth, I can derive no pleasure either from victory, the kingdom, or even immortality itself». As Yudhiṣṭhira lamented, Vyāsadeva suddenly entered the tent. Yudhiṣṭhira composed himself and stood to receive the sage.

When Vyāsadeva was seated at his ease, Yudhiṣṭhira said,O great Ṛṣi, Subhadrā’s son has been slain in battle by a number of vicious bowmen who surrounded him on all sides. The heroic Abhimanyu has reached paradise after slaying numerous enemies. When he stopped speaking Yudhiṣṭhira said, So many of the earth’s rulers now lie shorn of pride and power. Having heard about death and about Abhimanyu’s glorious end, give up your lamentation and remain firm in your duty.

Yudhiṣṭhira asked the sage how Jayadratha had been able to hold him and his brothers in check, and Vyāsadeva told him about Śiva’s boon. They would leave it to Yudhiṣṭhira to do. The king looked at Abhimanyu’s empty seat, now draped with his banner. Breathing heavily, Yudhiṣṭhira watched the tent entrance as it flapped in the evening breeze.