Shloka 17
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 45: Saubhadra–Lakṣmaṇa-saṃyoga and Kaurava Counter-Encirclement
शूरै: शिक्षाबलोपेतैस्तरुणैरत्यमर्षणै: । दृष्टवैकं समरे शूरं सौभद्रमपराजितम्,शिक्षा और बलसे सम्पन्न, तरुण अवस्थावाले, अत्यन्त अमर्षशील और शूरवीर राजकुमारोंद्वारा, किसीसे परास्त न होनेवाले शौर्यसम्पन्न सुभद्राकुमारको अकेले ही समरांगणमें बाणसमूहोंसे आच्छादित होते देख राजा दुर्योधनको बड़ा हर्ष हुआ। उसने यह मान लिया कि अब अभिमन्यु यमराजके लोकमें पहुँच गया
śūraiḥ śikṣā-balopetais taruṇair atyamarṣaṇaiḥ | dṛṣṭvaikaṁ samare śūraṁ saubhadram aparājitam ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Abhimanyu—the heroic, unconquered son of Subhadrā—alone in battle, hemmed in and covered by volleys of arrows from youthful princes who were brave, well-trained, strong, and fiercely intolerant of defeat, King Duryodhana felt great delight. He concluded that Abhimanyu had now reached the realm of Yama.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral contrast: true valor can stand alone even when surrounded, while unethical triumphalism rejoices at another’s suffering and hastily assumes death as victory. It invites reflection on how war distorts judgment and compassion, testing dharma in both defeat and success.
Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu is fighting alone and is being overwhelmed by concentrated arrow-fire from many young, trained, strong warriors. Observing this, Duryodhana becomes pleased and assumes Abhimanyu is as good as dead—believing he has reached Yama’s realm.