Shloka 28
अभिमन्युवधः
Abhimanyu’s Fall and the Battlefield Aftermath
तामेष निखिलां वेत्ति ध्रुवं परपुरंजय: । शक्यं त्वस्य धनुश्छेत्तुं ज्यां च बाणैः समाहितैः,“कर्ण! अभिमन्युका कवच अभेद्य है। यह तरुण वीर शीघ्रतापूर्वक पराक्रम प्रकट करनेवाला है। मैंने इसके पिताको कवच धारण करनेकी विधि बतायी है। शत्रुनगरीपर विजय पानेवाला यह वीर कुमार निश्चय ही वह सारी विधि जानता है (अत: इसका कवच तो अभेद्य ही है); परंतु मनोयोगपूर्वक चलाये हुए बाणोंसे इसके धनुष और प्रत्यंचाको काटा जा सकता है
tām eṣa nikhilāṁ vetti dhruvaṁ parapuraṁjayaḥ | śakyaṁ tv asya dhanuś chettuṁ jyāṁ ca bāṇaiḥ samāhitaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “This conqueror of enemy strongholds surely knows that entire method in full. Yet, with well-aimed arrows, it is possible to cut his bow and even its bowstring.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a warrior is protected by knowledge and armor, practical vulnerabilities remain; disciplined focus (samāhita) and tactical precision can overcome seemingly invincible defenses.
Sañjaya reports a tactical assessment: the hero described as ‘conqueror of enemy strongholds’ fully knows the protective method, yet opponents can still neutralize him by severing his bow or bowstring with carefully aimed arrows.