Shloka 10
Abhimanyu’s Śrāddha; Vyāsa’s Assurance of the Unborn Heir (अभिमन्योः श्राद्धं तथा गर्भरक्षणोपदेशः)
किमब्रवीत् त्वां संग्रामे सुभद्रां मातरं प्रति
Vaiśampāyana uvāca:
kim abravīt tvāṁ saṅgrāme Subhadrāṁ mātaraṁ prati,
kaccin mukhaṁ na Govinda tenājau vikṛtaṁ kṛtam |
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Que t’a-t-il dit sur le champ de bataille au sujet de sa mère Subhadrā ? Et, ô Govinda, son visage ne s’est-il pas déformé dans ce combat ? Est-il mort, saisi de peur, après avoir tourné le dos, ou est-il tombé sans perdre sa maîtrise ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle: even in death, one should not succumb to fear, turn one’s back, or lose composure. It also reflects the ethical weight placed on courage and honorable conduct as measures of dharma in warfare.
Vaiśampāyana reports a question addressed to Kṛṣṇa (Govinda) about Abhimanyu’s final moments: what message he conveyed regarding his mother Subhadrā, and whether he died with courage—without fear, disgrace, or a distorted face—thus probing the manner of his death and his adherence to warrior honor.