Shloka 28
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
अभिमन्युप्रभृतय: पाण्डवानां महारथा: । अभ्यधावन् परीप्सन्तः प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा सुदुस्त्यजान्
sañjaya uvāca | abhimanyuprabhṛtayaḥ pāṇḍavānāṁ mahārathāḥ | abhyadhāvan parīpsantaḥ prāṇāṁs tyaktvā sudustyajān |
Sañjaya said: The great chariot-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas—beginning with Abhimanyu—rushed forward to protect him, casting aside attachment even to their own lives, though life is so hard to relinquish.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma and comradeship: when a righteous ally is endangered, one should act decisively to protect him, even at personal risk. Ethical emphasis falls on courage, loyalty, and prioritizing duty over attachment to one’s own life.
Bhīmasena is being severely pressed and endangered in battle. Seeing this, Abhimanyu and other Pāṇḍava elite warriors charge forward to rescue and protect him, disregarding fear for their own lives.