Shloka 24

अभिमन्योरावरणम्

Encirclement and counter-strikes of Abhimanyu

Devanagari script

ततः क्राथ: शरख्रातैरार्जुनिं समवाकिरत्‌ । अथेतरे संनिवृत्ता: पुनद्रोणमुखा रथा:,तदनन्तर क्राथने अर्जुनकुमार अभिमन्युपर बाणोंकी वर्षा आरम्भ कर दी। इतनेहीमें द्रोण आदि दूसरे महारथी भी पुनः लौट आये

Transliteration

tataḥ krāthaḥ śaravrātair ārjunim samavākirat | atha itare saṁnivṛttāḥ punar droṇamukhā rathāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Da überschüttete Krātha Arjunas Sohn mit Salven von Pfeilen. Zugleich kehrten die übrigen Wagenkämpfer, an der Spitze Droṇa, die sich kurz zurückgezogen hatten, wieder um und kamen erneut an die Front.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereafter

क्राथःKrātha (a warrior)

शरख्रातैःwith arrow(-like) weapons / with arrows (as 'śara-khrāta')

अर्जुनिम्Arjuna’s son (Abhimanyu)

समवाकिरत्showered/covered (with missiles)

अथthen/and then

इतरेthe others

संनिवृत्ताःhaving turned back/returned

पुनःagain

द्रोणमुखाःwith Droṇa at the head / led by Droṇa

रथाःchariots (i.e., chariot-warriors)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Krātha

Abhimanyu

Droṇa

rathāḥ (chariot-warriors)

śara (arrows)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: a warrior’s steadfastness is tested when opponents coordinate and renew attacks. It points to the kṣatriya ideal of endurance and duty amid escalating danger, while also implicitly questioning the morality of overwhelming a single combatant through combined pressure.

What is happening in the narrative?

Krātha begins a heavy arrow-shower against Abhimanyu (Arjuna’s son). At the same time, other chariot-warriors—now led again by Droṇa—return to the fight, indicating a renewed, organized offensive around Abhimanyu.