Shloka 20
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 47 — Abhimanyu’s rapid exchanges, counsel to disable his chariot-system
त॑ं कोसलानामधिप: कर्णिनाताडयद्धुदि । स तस्याश्चान् ध्वजं चाप॑ सूतं चापातयत् क्षितौ,तत्पश्चात् कोसलनरेश बृहदबलने एक बाणद्वारा अभिमन्युकी छातीमें चोट पहुँचायी। यह देख अभिमन्युने उनके चारों घोड़ों तथा ध्वज, धनुष एवं सारथिको भी पृथ्वीपर मार गिराया
sañjaya uvāca | taṃ kosalānām adhipaḥ karṇinā tāḍayad yudhi | sa tasyāś cāśvān dhvajaṃ cāpaṃ sūtaṃ cāpātayat kṣitau | tatpaścāt kosalanareśo bṛhadbalenaikabāṇenābhimanyor vakṣasi prahāram akarot | tad dṛṣṭvābhimanyus tasya caturo hayān dhvajaṃ dhanur sārathiṃ ca pṛthivyāṃ nipātayām āsa |
Sañjaya berkata—di tengah hiruk-pikuk pertempuran, penguasa Kośala menghantam Abhimanyu dengan sebuah anak panah. Abhimanyu membalas: ia menjatuhkan ke tanah keempat kuda lawannya, panji, busur, bahkan sais keretanya. Lalu raja Kośala, Bṛhadbala yang perkasa, menembus dada Abhimanyu dengan satu batang panah. Melihat itu, Abhimanyu kembali merobohkan keempat kuda, panji, busur, dan sais lawannya ke bumi.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya code in wartime: immediate response to attack, skill matched by counter-skill, and the grim moral atmosphere where honor is pursued through martial prowess even as suffering increases.
Sañjaya describes a duel-like exchange: the Kośala king strikes Abhimanyu; Abhimanyu counters by bringing down the enemy’s horses, banner, bow, and charioteer; then the Kośala king lands a powerful single-arrow blow to Abhimanyu’s chest, after which Abhimanyu again fells the opponent’s key chariot components.