Shloka 3
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 49: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament and Strategic Foreboding after Abhimanyu’s Fall
महारथस्तत: कार्ष्णि: संजग्राह महागदाम्,तब महारथी अभिमन्युने एक विशाल गदा हाथमें ले ली। शत्रुओंने उसे धनुष, रथ, खड्ग और चक्रसे भी वंचित कर दिया था। इसलिये गदा हाथमें लिये हुए अभिमन्युने अश्वत्थामापर धावा किया
sañjaya uvāca | mahārathas tataḥ kārṣṇiḥ sañjagrāha mahāgadām | tato mahārathī abhimanyunā eka viśālā gadā hastam̐ le lī | śatrubhiḥ sa dhanuḥ-ratha-khaḍga-cakraiḥ api vañcitaḥ | tasmāt gadā-pāṇir abhimanyuḥ aśvatthāmānam upari dhāvata |
Lalu Abhimanyu, sang maharathi keturunan garis Kṛṣṇa, meraih sebuah gada raksasa. Musuh telah merampas darinya busur, kereta, pedang, dan senjata cakra; maka dengan gada di tangan, Abhimanyu menerjang lurus ke arah Aśvatthāmā.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when conventional supports and weapons are taken away, one should still uphold duty with courage and presence of mind, choosing whatever righteous means remain rather than collapsing into despair.
Sanjaya describes Abhimanyu, having been deprived of multiple weapons and even his chariot, taking up a heavy mace and charging toward Aśvatthāmā, continuing the fight despite severe disadvantage.