Shloka 7
Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra
Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
अभिमन्यु: सुसंक्रुद्ध: पिशज्ैस्तुरगोत्तमै: । संयुक्त रथमास्थाय प्रायाद् भीष्मरथं प्रति
sañjaya uvāca | abhimanyuḥ susaṁkruddhaḥ piśaṅgaiḥ turagottamaiḥ saṁyuktaṁ ratham āsthāya prāyād bhīṣma-rathaṁ prati |
Sañjaya dit : Abhimanyu, enflammé d’une colère farouche, monta sur son char attelé des meilleurs chevaux fauves et fonça droit vers le char de Bhīṣma. Son attelage brillait au loin, orné d’une bannière d’or finement ouvragée portant l’emblème du karṇikāra. Dans la fournaise du combat, il assaillit non seulement Bhīṣma, mais encore les plus grands guerriers de char venus le couvrir.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya impulse toward decisive action in battle, while implicitly warning how anger (krodha) can drive escalation. It frames heroism as duty-bound courage, yet ethically tense when youthful fury confronts venerable elders and their protectors.
Abhimanyu, enraged, mounts a chariot drawn by excellent tawny horses and charges toward Bhīṣma’s chariot. His chariot is described as distinguished by a prominent banner (with the karnikāra emblem per the accompanying description), and he attacks Bhīṣma along with the elite warriors guarding him.