Shloka 24
Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption
प्रतपन्तमिवादित्यं निध्नन्तं शात्रवान् रणे । “कर्ण! देखो, वीर दु:ःशासन सूर्यके समान शत्रु-सैनिकोंको संतप्त करता हुआ युद्धमें उन्हें मार रहा था, इसी अवस्थामें वह अभिमन्युके वशमें पड़ गया है ।। अथ चैते सुसंरब्धा: सिंहा इव बलोत्कटा:
sañjaya uvāca | pratapantam ivādityaṃ nighnantaṃ śātravān raṇe | karṇa! dekho, vīra duḥśāsanaḥ sūrya-samaḥ śatru-sainikān santāpayann yuddhe tān nihanan, evam-avasthāyām sa abhimanyor vaśaṃ gataḥ || atha caite susaṃrabdhāḥ siṃhā iva balotkaṭāḥ |
Sañjaya dit : « Ô Karṇa, regarde ! Le héros Duḥśāsana—tel le soleil dans son ardeur—brûlait les troupes ennemies et abattait ses adversaires au plus fort de la mêlée. Et pourtant, dans cet état même, il est tombé sous la domination d’Abhimanyu. » Alors ces guerriers, farouchement courroucés et puissants comme des lions, s’avancèrent davantage.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the instability of battlefield fortune: even a warrior who appears invincible—“sun-like” in power—can be suddenly checked. Ethically, it hints at the Mahābhārata’s recurring warning against overconfidence and the tragic momentum of war, where prowess does not guarantee safety or righteousness.
Sañjaya reports to Karṇa that Duḥśāsana was fiercely attacking and tormenting the enemy ranks, but despite this dominance he has been brought under Abhimanyu’s control (overpowered/subdued). The following fragment indicates other warriors, enraged and lion-like in strength, are about to respond.