Shloka 18
अभिमन्योरावरणम्
Encirclement and counter-strikes of Abhimanyu
लक्ष्मणं निहतं दृष्टवा हाहेत्युच्चुक्रुशुर्जना: । ततो दुर्योधन: क्रुद्धः प्रिये पुत्रे निपातिते
lakṣmaṇaṁ nihataṁ dṛṣṭvā hāhety uccukruśur janāḥ | tato duryodhanaḥ kruddhaḥ priye putre nipātite ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Lakṣmaṇa slain, the people cried out, “Alas! Alas!” Then Duryodhana, enraged at the fall of his beloved son, was overcome by grief-fueled wrath—an emotion that, in war, often drives men from judgment into further violence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment (to a beloved son) intensifies grief into anger, and how such anger can eclipse discernment in the midst of war—showing the ethical danger of letting personal loss dictate violent action.
After Lakṣmaṇa is seen slain, the assembled people cry out in lamentation. Duryodhana, hearing/seeing this and realizing his dear son has fallen, becomes furious, setting the stage for retaliatory resolve and escalation.