Shloka 18
अभिमन्यु-परिवेष्टनम्
Encirclement and Counterassault of Abhimanyu
घोरैहलहलाशब्दैर्मा गास्तिष्ठैह्ि मामिति । असावहममुत्रेति प्रवदन्तो मुहुर्मुहु:,नाना प्रकारके वाद्योंकी ध्वनि, कोलाहल, ललकार, गर्जना, हुंकार, सिंहनाद, “ठहरो, ठहरो” की आवाज और घोर हलहला शब्दके साथ “न जाओ, खड़े रहो, मेरे पास आओ, तुम्हारा शत्रु मैं तो यहाँ हूँ” इत्यादि बातें बारंबार कहते हुए वीर सैनिक हाथियोंके चिग्घाड़, घुँघुरुओंकी रुनझुन, अट्टाहास, हाथोंकी तालीके शब्द तथा पहियोंकी घर्घराहटसे सारी वसुधाको गुँजाते हुए अर्जुनकुमारपर टूट पड़े
sañjaya uvāca | ghoraiḥ halahalāśabdair mā gās tiṣṭheti mām iti | asāv aham amutreti pravadanto muhur muhuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Amid terrifying cries of “halahalā,” they kept shouting again and again, “Do not go—stand! Come to me! I am here—there he is!” Thus, with repeated challenges and tumult, the warriors surged upon Arjuna’s son, making the whole earth resound with the trumpeting of elephants, the jingle of bells, loud laughter, clapping of hands, and the rumbling of chariot-wheels.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, collective frenzy—taunts, noise, and aggressive posturing—can overwhelm discernment. It implicitly warns that when passion (krodha, mada) dominates, ethical restraint and clarity about dharma are easily eclipsed, even as warriors claim valor.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield uproar as warriors repeatedly shout challenges like “Don’t go—stand!” and “I am here—there he is!” and then rush upon Arjuna’s son (Abhimanyu). The scene is amplified by the sounds of elephants, bells, clapping, laughter, and chariot-wheels, conveying a coordinated, tumultuous assault.