Shloka 20
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 47 — Abhimanyu’s rapid exchanges, counsel to disable his chariot-system
त॑ं कोसलानामधिप: कर्णिनाताडयद्धुदि । स तस्याश्चान् ध्वजं चाप॑ सूतं चापातयत् क्षितौ,तत्पश्चात् कोसलनरेश बृहदबलने एक बाणद्वारा अभिमन्युकी छातीमें चोट पहुँचायी। यह देख अभिमन्युने उनके चारों घोड़ों तथा ध्वज, धनुष एवं सारथिको भी पृथ्वीपर मार गिराया
sañjaya uvāca | taṃ kosalānām adhipaḥ karṇinā tāḍayad yudhi | sa tasyāś cāśvān dhvajaṃ cāpaṃ sūtaṃ cāpātayat kṣitau | tatpaścāt kosalanareśo bṛhadbalenaikabāṇenābhimanyor vakṣasi prahāram akarot | tad dṛṣṭvābhimanyus tasya caturo hayān dhvajaṃ dhanur sārathiṃ ca pṛthivyāṃ nipātayām āsa |
サञ्जयは語った。激戦のただ中で、コーサラの主は矢を放ち、アビマンニュを射抜いた。アビマンニュは即座に応じ、その王の馬を倒し、旗標を落とし、弓を砕き、さらに御者までも地に伏せさせた。ついでコーサラ王は大いなる剛力をもって、ただ一矢でアビマンニュの胸を貫いた。これを見るや、アビマンニュは再び敵の四頭の駿馬を打ち倒し、旗と弓と御者をもろとも地に落とした—武勇には武勇で即応するというクシャトリヤの苛烈な戦の掟が、暴力の激化とともに露わとなる。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya code in wartime: immediate response to attack, skill matched by counter-skill, and the grim moral atmosphere where honor is pursued through martial prowess even as suffering increases.
Sañjaya describes a duel-like exchange: the Kośala king strikes Abhimanyu; Abhimanyu counters by bringing down the enemy’s horses, banner, bow, and charioteer; then the Kośala king lands a powerful single-arrow blow to Abhimanyu’s chest, after which Abhimanyu again fells the opponent’s key chariot components.