Shloka 16
अभिमन्यु-परिवेष्टनम्
Encirclement and Counterassault of Abhimanyu
(तदभेद्यमनाधृष्य॑ द्रोणानीकं सुदुर्जयम् । भित्त्वा$<र्जुनिरसम्भ्रान्तो विवेशाचिन्त्यविक्रम: ।।) अभिमन्युका पराक्रम अचिन्त्य था। उसने बिना किसी घबराहटके द्रोणाचार्यके अत्यन्त दुर्जय एवं दुर्धर्ष सैन्य-व्यूहको भंग करके उसके भीतर प्रवेश किया। त॑ प्रविष्टं विनिघ्नन्तं शत्रुसंघान् महाबलम् । हस्त्यश्वरथपत्त्यौघा: परिवद्रुरुदायुधा:,व्यूहके भीतर घुसकर शत्रुसमूहोंका विनाश करते हुए महाबली अभिमन्युको हाथोंमें अस्त्र-शस्त्र लिये गजारोही, अश्वारोही, रथी और पैदल योद्धाओंके भिन्न-भिन्न दलोंने चारों ओरसे घेर लिया
tad abhedyam anādhṛṣyaṃ droṇānīkaṃ sudurjayam | bhittvā 'rjunir asambhrānto viveśācintyavikramaḥ || taṃ praviṣṭaṃ vinighnantaṃ śatrusaṅghān mahābalam | hastyaśvarathapattyaughāḥ parivavrur udāyudhāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Unimaginable was Abhimanyu’s prowess. Without the least confusion, he shattered Droṇa’s battle-array—deemed unbreakable, unassailable, and exceedingly hard to conquer—and entered within. Once inside, as the mighty Abhimanyu cut down masses of foes, waves of warriors—elephant-riders, horsemen, chariot-fighters, and infantry—surrounded him on every side with weapons raised.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds steadfastness (asambhrānta) and disciplined courage in the face of overwhelming danger, while implicitly setting up the dharmic dilemma of war: whether collective force used against a lone, exceptionally brave fighter aligns with the ideals of fair combat.
Sañjaya describes Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, breaking into Droṇa’s formidable formation and wreaking havoc among enemy groups. In response, large contingents of elephant-riders, horsemen, charioteers, and infantry converge and surround him from all sides with weapons drawn.