Shloka 12
अभिमन्युवधः
Abhimanyu’s Fall and the Battlefield Aftermath
एतावदुक्त्वा वचन कर्मारपरिमार्जितम् । नाराचं विससर्जास्मै त॑ द्रौणिस्त्रिभिराच्छिनत्,यह वचन कहकर अभिमन्युने कारीगरके माँजे हुए एक नाराचको दुःशासनपुत्रपर चलाया; परंतु अश्वत्थामाने तीन बाण मारकर उसे बीचमें ही काट दिया
etāvad uktvā vacanaṁ karmāra-parimārjitam | nārācaṁ visasarjāsmāi taṁ drauṇis tribhir ācchinat ||
Setelah berkata demikian, Abhimanyu melepaskan sebuah panah nārāca yang diasah dan dipoles laksana karya pandai besi, ke arah putra Duḥśāsana. Namun Aśvatthāman, putra Droṇa, menimpanya dengan tiga anak panah dan memotongnya di tengah lintasan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the immediacy of battlefield action: careful preparation and intent (a polished nārāca) can be thwarted by alert counter-skill (Aśvatthāman’s three arrows). Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya arena where prowess and vigilance decide outcomes moment by moment, even before broader moral deliberation can take effect.
After speaking briefly, Abhimanyu shoots a well-whetted nārāca at his opponent; Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) intercepts it with three arrows and splits it in mid-air, preventing it from reaching its target.