Shloka 7

अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa

with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

अभिमन्युमुखा श्चापि पाण्डवानां महारथा:

Transliteration

abhimanyumukhāś cāpi pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: “And the great chariot-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas, with Abhimanyu at their forefront…”

Word by Word

• अभिमन्युमुखाः: having Abhimanyu at the forefront
• अभिमन्युमुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमन्यु-मुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Abhimanyu
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the dharmic ideal of kṣatriya leadership: a worthy commander stands at the front, accepting the foremost risk and responsibility, embodying courage and duty rather than seeking safety behind others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the Pāṇḍava side’s battle formation or advance, noting that their elite chariot-warriors are present and that Abhimanyu is positioned at the forefront as a leading figure.