Shloka 35
अभिमन्यु-परिवेष्टनम्
Encirclement and Counterassault of Abhimanyu
घण्टा:शुण्डाविषाणाग्रान् छत्रमाला: पदानुगान् । शरैरनिशितधाराग्रै: शात्रवाणामशातयत्,रथोंका संहार करके अभिमन्युने पुनः तीखी धारवाले बाणोंद्वारा शत्रुओंके हाथियों, गजारोहियों, उनके झंडों, अंकुशों, ध्वजाओं, तूणीरों, कवचों, रस्सों, कण्ठाभूषणों, झूलों, घंटों, सूँड़ों, दाँतों, छत्रों, मालाओं और पादरक्षकों को भी काट डाला
sañjaya uvāca | ghaṇṭāḥ śuṇḍā-viṣāṇāgrān chatramālāḥ padānugān | śaraiḥ aniśita-dhārāgraiḥ śātravāṇām aśātayat |
Sañjaya said: With arrows whose tips were keen and razor-edged, Abhimanyu cut down the enemy’s battle-gear and ornaments—bells, trunks and the points of tusks, parasols and garlands, and even the foot-guards that followed the steps—thus shattering the foe’s martial display and protection in the midst of the fight. The scene underscores how, in war, prowess is shown not only by slaying but by disabling the opponent’s means of harm and breaking their confidence and formation.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as disciplined martial excellence: victory is pursued not merely by killing but by neutralizing the opponent’s capacity to fight—breaking weapons, armor, and symbols of power—thereby reducing harm and collapsing enemy morale and order.
Sañjaya describes Abhimanyu’s rapid, precise archery in the Drona Parva battle: with sharp arrows he slices through the enemy’s elephant-gear and adornments—bells, trunks, tusk-points, parasols, garlands, and related protections—creating havoc in the opposing ranks.