Shloka 80
कथं च वो रथस्थानां शरवर्षाणि मुज्चताम् । नीतो>भिमन्युर्निधनं कदर्थीकृत्य व: परैः,“आपलोग रथपर बैठे हुए बाणोंकी वर्षा कर रहे थे तो भी शत्रुओंने आपकी अवहेलना करके कैसे अभिमन्युको मार डाला?
kathaṃ ca vo rathasthānāṃ śaravarṣāṇi muñcatām | nīto 'bhimanyur nidhanaṃ kadarthīkṛtya vaḥ paraiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Even as you stood firm upon your chariots, showering volleys of arrows, how did the enemy nonetheless disregard you and, after humiliating him, lead Abhimanyu to his death? What failure of protection and what breach of warriorly restraint allowed this to happen in the midst of battle?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical shock of a warrior’s death brought about through disregard and humiliation despite supposed protection—raising questions of dharma in warfare, responsibility of allies, and the condemnation of tactics that violate fair combat.
Sañjaya describes (and implicitly questions) how Abhimanyu was taken to his death even though his side’s chariot-warriors were releasing heavy arrow volleys—suggesting that the enemy managed to isolate and overpower him, treating him with contempt and ignoring the defenders.