Shloka 316

Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption

Devanagari script

समरे5मरसंकाश: सौभद्रो न व्यशीर्यत । कर्णके द्वारा उसकी अस्त्रवर्षसे पीड़ित होनेपर भी देवतुल्य अभिमन्यु समरभूमिमें शिथिल नहीं हुआ

Transliteration

samare ’marasankāśaḥ saubhadro na vyaśīryata | karṇakṛtair astravarṣaiḥ pīḍyamāno ’pi devatulyo ’bhimanyur raṇabhūmau śithilo na babhūva ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, the son of Subhadrā—radiant like an immortal—did not falter. Though tormented by the rain of missiles unleashed by Karṇa, Abhimanyu, godlike in valor, did not slacken on the battlefield, holding endurance and resolve as a warrior’s righteous ideal amid war’s chaos.

Word by Word

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अमरसंकाशः: resembling an immortal (god-like)
• अमरसंकाशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमरसंकाश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सौभद्रः: the son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu)
• सौभद्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभद्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• व्यशीर्यत: did not falter / did not become slack / did not break down
• Type: Verb
• Root: शीॄ (शीर्ण/शीर्यते)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Abhimanyu (Saubhadra)
• Subhadrā
• Karṇa
• battlefield (raṇabhūmi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates steadfastness under pressure as a warrior’s virtue: even when struck by overwhelming force, one should not abandon resolve or duty. It frames courage as disciplined endurance rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Abhimanyu on the battlefield enduring Karṇa’s intense barrage of missiles. Despite being severely harried, Abhimanyu remains unshaken and continues to fight with godlike composure.