Shloka 216
अभिमन्योरावरणम्
Encirclement and counter-strikes of Abhimanyu
कलिलज्जश्न निषादाश्न क्राथपुत्रश्न वीर्यवान् । उस समय कलिंगदेशीय सैनिक, निषादगण तथा पराक्रमी क्राथपुत्र--इन सबने कवच धारण करके गजसेनाके द्वारा अभिमन्युका रास्ता रोक दिया
kaliṅgā niṣādāś ca krāthaputrāś ca vīryavān | te sarve kavacaṃ dhṛtvā gajasenayābhimanyor mārgaṃ rurodhuḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Da stellten sich die Krieger aus Kaliṅga, die Niṣādas und die tapferen Krāthaputras—alle gerüstet—Abhimanyu mit einem Elefantenkorps in den Weg und sperrten ihm den Pfad.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata: in war, groups often employ overwhelming, coordinated power against a single opponent. It invites reflection on how expediency and fear can eclipse ideals of fair fighting (dharma-yuddha), and how moral compromise can arise under the pressure to win.
Sañjaya reports that Kaliṅga warriors, the Niṣādas, and the Krāthaputras, after donning armour, deploy an elephant-corps to obstruct Abhimanyu’s advance, effectively sealing his route and hemming him in through massed troops and war-elephants.