Shloka 8
अभिमन्योर् विक्रमः — Abhimanyu’s Disruptive Advance and the Gāndharva-astra Counter
तं॑ सिंहमिव संक्रुद्धं प्रमथ्नन्तं शरैररीन् । आरादायान्तमभ्येत्य वसातीयो< भ्ययाद् द्रुतम्,तदनन्तर सिंहके समान अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरकर अपने बाणोंद्वारा शत्रुओंको मथते हुए अभिमन्युको समीप आते देख वसातीय तुरंत वहाँ उपस्थित हो उसका सामना करनेके लिये गया
sañjaya uvāca |
taṁ siṁham iva saṅkruddhaṁ pramathnantaṁ śarair arīn |
ārād āyāntam abhyetya vasātīyo 'bhyayād drutam ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Abhimanyu—like an enraged lion—crushing the enemy ranks with his arrows and advancing close at hand, Vasātīya quickly came forward to confront him.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage: a warrior advances without hesitation, and opponents meet valor with valor. It also frames righteous combat as direct confrontation rather than avoidance—each side accepts the consequences of duty in war.
Sañjaya describes Abhimanyu advancing through the battlefield, striking down enemies with arrows like an enraged lion. Seeing him draw near, the warrior Vasātīya swiftly comes forward to face and oppose him.