Shloka 18
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 45: Saubhadra–Lakṣmaṇa-saṃyoga and Kaurava Counter-Encirclement
छाद्यमानं शखव्रातै्ष्टो दुर्योधनो 5भवत् । वैवस्वतस्य भवनं गत॑ होनममन्यत,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
sañjaya uvāca | chādyamānaṃ śaravrātaiḥ sa tu duryodhano 'bhavat | vaivasvatasya bhavanaṃ gataṃ hīnam amanyata ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Subhadrā’s son Abhimanyu, unmatched in valor, standing alone on the battlefield and completely covered by volleys of arrows shot by youthful princes—well-trained, strong, fiercely unyielding, and heroic—King Duryodhana felt great delight. He concluded that Abhimanyu had fallen and gone to the abode of Vaivasvata (Yama), the Lord of Death.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse implicitly critiques the adharma of taking joy in another’s suffering and presumed death—especially when achieved through overwhelming force against a lone warrior. It points to how hatred and rivalry can distort judgment, making cruelty appear as victory.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana sees Abhimanyu alone in battle, covered by dense arrow volleys from many young princes. Interpreting this as Abhimanyu’s defeat, Duryodhana becomes pleased and assumes Abhimanyu has reached Yama’s realm.