Shloka 13
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 49: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament and Strategic Foreboding after Abhimanyu’s Fall
गदावेगेन महता व्यायामेन च मोहित:,गदाके उस महान् वेग और परिश्रमसे मोहित होकर शत्रुवीरोंका नाश करनेवाला अभिमन्यु अचेत हो पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा। राजन! इस प्रकार उस युद्धस्थलमें बहुत-से योद्धाओंने मिलकर एकाकी अभिमन्युको मार डाला
gadāvegena mahatā vyāyāmena ca mohitaḥ śatruvīranāśano 'bhimanyur acetāḥ pṛthivyāṁ nipapāta | rājan evaṁ tasmin yuddhasthale bahubhir yodhakaiḥ samāgatyaikākī abhiman yuḥ hataḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。棍棒の一撃一撃の凄まじい威力に圧され、絶え間ない奮闘の疲労に呑まれて、敵の勇士を滅ぼすアビマンユは意識を失い、大地に倒れた。王よ、かくしてその戦場で、多くの戦士が群れ集い、ただ一人のアビマンユを討ち取った。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical collapse that can occur in war: when many attack and kill a lone, exhausted warrior, the outward 'victory' is stained by adharma. It frames Abhimanyu’s fall as both physical (fatigue and overpowering blows) and moral tragedy (unfair collective killing), foreshadowing escalating retaliation.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Abhimanyu, overwhelmed by powerful mace-strikes and exhaustion, loses consciousness and falls to the ground. In that vulnerable state on the battlefield, multiple warriors converge and kill him while he is alone.