Shloka 39
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 49: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament and Strategic Foreboding after Abhimanyu’s Fall
रथाश्वनरमातड़ान् विनिहत्य सहख्रश: । अवितृप्त: स संग्रामादशोच्य: पुण्यकर्मकृत् । गत: पुण्यकृतां लोकान् शाश्चतान् पुण्यनिर्जितान्,रथ, घोड़े, पैदल और हाथियोंका सहस्रोंकी संख्यामें संहार करके भी वह युद्धसे तृप्त नहीं हुआ था। पुण्यकर्म करनेके कारण अभिमन्यु शोकके योग्य नहीं है। वह पुण्यात्माओंके पुण्योपार्जित सनातन लोकोंमें जा पहुँचा है
rathāśva-nara-mātaḍān vinihatya sahasraśaḥ | avitṛptaḥ sa saṅgrāmād aśocyaḥ puṇya-karma-kṛt | gataḥ puṇya-kṛtāṁ lokān śāśvatān puṇya-nirjitān ||
Sanjaya said: Having slain charioteers, horses, foot-soldiers, and elephants by the thousands, he still was not sated by battle. Yet, because he performed meritorious deeds, he is not one to be mourned. He has gone to the eternal worlds won by merit—realms belonging to the righteous, attained through virtue.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reframes grief through dharma: a warrior who acts with merit and courage is 'aśocya'—not to be lamented—because such virtue is believed to lead to enduring, meritorious realms after death.
Sanjaya describes Abhimanyu’s battlefield prowess—slaying vast numbers across chariots, horses, infantry, and elephants—and then consoles by stating that despite his death, his righteous conduct has carried him to eternal worlds attained by merit.