Mahabharata 7.39.5 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 5
अभिमन्युना दुःशासनस्य ताडनम्
Abhimanyu’s Rebuke and Wounding of Duḥśāsana; Karṇa’s Counter-volley
द्रोणं कर्ण कृपं शल्यं द्रौ्णिं भोजं बृहदूबलम् । दुर्योधनं सौमदत्ति शकुनिं च महाबलम्
sañjaya uvāca |
droṇaṁ karṇaṁ kṛpaṁ śalyaṁ drauṇiṁ bhojaṁ bṛhadbalam |
duryodhanaṁ saumadattiṁ śakuniṁ ca mahābalam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Abhimanyu, der nach allen Seiten wirbelte wie ein lodernder Brand, der im Kreis geschwungen wird, traf unablässig mit seinen Pfeilen Droṇa, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Śalya, Aśvatthāmā, Droṇas Sohn, Kṛtavarmā aus dem Bhoja-Geschlecht, Bṛhadbala, Duryodhana, Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas) und den mächtigen Śakuni—ja, auch viele Könige und Prinzen samt ihren vielfältigen Truppenteilen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral strain of war: extraordinary personal valor can coexist with ethically troubling circumstances when many renowned elders and commanders converge against a single youthful fighter. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma (courage and steadfastness) alongside the limits of fairness in battle.
Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu is rapidly circling and shooting arrows in all directions, attacking leading Kaurava warriors—Droṇa, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Śalya, Aśvatthāmā, Kṛtavarmā, Bṛhadbala, Duryodhana, Bhūriśravas, and Śakuni—along with many other kings, princes, and their troops.
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