Shloka 2
त॑ं द्रोणदुर्योधनबाह्लिकाश्व तथैव दुर्मर्षणचित्रसेनौ । जयद्रथश्वातिबलो बलौघै- न॑पास्तथान्ये प्रययु: समनन््तात्,उनके साथ चारों ओरसे द्रोण, दुर्योधन, बाह्लिक, दुर्मर्षण, चित्रसेन, अत्यन्त बलवान् जयद्रथ तथा अन्य नरेश विशाल वाहिनीको साथ लिये प्रस्थित हुए संसक्तमतितेजोभिस्तमेकं ददृशुर्जना: । पज्चभिर्मनुजव्याप्रैर्गजै: सिंहशिशुं यथा जैसे सिंहका बच्चा पाँच हाथियोंसे भिड़ा हुआहो, उसी प्रकार सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्यु उन अत्यन्त तेजस्वी पाँच पुरुषसिंहोंसे अकेला ही युद्ध कर रहा था। यह बात वहाँ सब लोगोंने प्रत्यक्ष देखी
taṁ droṇaduryodhanabāhlikāśva tathaiva durmarṣaṇacitrasenau | jayadrathaśvātibalo balaughair apāstathānye prayayuḥ samanantāt || saṁsaktamatitejobhis tam ekaṁ dadṛśur janāḥ | pañcabhir manujavyāghrair gajaiḥ siṁhaśiśuṁ yathā ||
Sañjaya said: Around him advanced Droṇa, Duryodhana, Bāhlika, and also Durmarṣaṇa and Citrasena; and Jayadratha—exceedingly mighty—together with masses of troops, and other kings as well, moving in from every side. People there saw that single warrior locked in combat with men of overwhelming brilliance—like a lion-cub beset by five elephants. In the same way, Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā, was seen fighting alone against those five lion-like heroes.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: a lone, duty-bound hero faces a coordinated onslaught by many renowned warriors. It underscores kṣatriya-dharma (steadfastness and courage under pressure) while implicitly inviting reflection on fairness and collective aggression against a single combatant.
Sañjaya reports that major Kaurava leaders—Droṇa, Duryodhana, Bāhlika, Durmarṣaṇa, Citrasena, and the very powerful Jayadratha—advance with large forces from all directions. Observers see one warrior fighting amid them, compared to a lion-cub surrounded by five elephants; this lone fighter is identified as Abhimanyu, son of Subhadrā.