Shloka 28
Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)
भित्त्वा चास्य तनुत्राणं शरेणोरस्यताडयत् | ततस्ते तावका वीरा राजपुत्रा महारथा:
sañjaya uvāca |
bhittvā cāsya tanutrāṇaṃ śareṇorasy atāḍayat |
Sañjaya dit : Ayant percé sa cuirasse, il le frappa d’une flèche en pleine poitrine. À la suite de ce coup, les princes kuru—vaillants et grands guerriers de char—se resserrèrent, furieux, et se mirent à cribler Abhimanyu de traits acérés ; mais Abhimanyu, maître des armes les plus nobles, les blessa tous en retour de ses flèches tranchantes.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya world of reciprocal action in battle: aggression provokes collective retaliation, yet true mastery is shown by composure and skill under pressure. Ethically, it underscores how anger (krodha) escalates conflict, while disciplined expertise can still prevail amid chaos.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior’s armor is pierced and he is struck in the chest by an arrow. Then the Kuru princes gather and, enraged, shower Abhimanyu with sharp arrows; Abhimanyu, expert in weapons, counters effectively and wounds them in return.