Shloka 19
अभिमन्योरावरणम्
Encirclement and counter-strikes of Abhimanyu
घ्नतैनमिति चुक्रोश क्षत्रियान् क्षत्रियर्षभ: । लक्ष्मणको मारा गया देख सब लोग जोर-जोरसे हाहाकार करने लगे। अपने प्यारे पुत्रके मारे जानेपर क्षत्रियशिरोमणि दुर्योधन कुपित हो उठा और समस्त क्षत्रियोंसे बोला --अहो! इस अभिमन्युको मार डालो” ।। ततो द्रोण: कृप: कर्णों द्रोणपुत्रो बृहद्धल:
ghnatainam iti cukrośa kṣatriyān kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ | tato droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ karṇo droṇaputro bṛhaddhalaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: The bull among kṣatriyas cried out to the warriors, “Kill him!” Enraged at the slaying of his beloved son, Duryodhana—foremost of kings—urged all the kṣatriyas, “Ah! Strike down this Abhimanyu!” Thereupon Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, the son of Droṇa (Aśvatthāman), and Bṛhaddhala advanced to engage.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how grief and anger can drive leaders to incite collective violence, raising ethical questions about kṣatriya-dharma: whether victory pursued through rage and overwhelming force remains righteous, and how personal loss can distort judgment in war.
After the killing of Duryodhana’s son (Lakṣmaṇa), Duryodhana, furious, shouts to the assembled warriors to kill Abhimanyu. The text then names prominent Kaurava champions—Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Aśvatthāman, and Bṛhaddhala—moving to act in response.