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Shloka 21

भीष्मवधाय प्रयाणम् — The Advance toward Bhīṣma and Counter-Engagements

अभिमन्युर्विकर्णस्य हयान्‌ हत्वा महाहवे | अथीैनं पज्चविंशत्या क्षुद्रकाणां समार्पयत्‌,अभिमन्युने उस महायुद्धमें विकर्णके घोड़ोंको मारकर स्वयं विकर्णको भी पचीस बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया

abhimanyur vikarṇasya hayān hatvā mahāhave | athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samārpayat ||

ಆ ಮಹಾಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯು ವಿಕರ್ಣನ ಕುದುರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಂದುಹಾಕಿದನು; ನಂತರ ವಿಕರ್ಣನನ್ನೇ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತೈದು ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಗಾಯಗೊಳಿಸಿದನು.

अभिमन्युःAbhimanyu
अभिमन्युः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअभिमन्यु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विकर्णस्यof Vikarna
विकर्णस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविकर्ण
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
हयान्horses
हयान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
हत्वाhaving slain
हत्वा:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
महाहवेin the great battle
महाहवे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहाहव
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
एनम्him
एनम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पञ्चविंशत्याwith twenty-five
पञ्चविंशत्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्चविंशति
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
क्षुद्रकाणाम्of arrows (small shafts)
क्षुद्रकाणाम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षुद्रक
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
समर्पयत्he struck/assailed (lit. delivered/consigned)
समर्पयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + अर्प्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Abhimanyu
V
Vikarna
H
horses
A
arrows
B
battlefield (Kurukṣetra context)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the harsh but structured ethic of kṣatriya warfare: decisive action, tactical disabling of the enemy’s chariot team, and direct engagement. It reflects how duty in war can demand swift, forceful measures even when they entail severe violence.

Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu, in the midst of a major clash, first kills Vikarna’s horses and then wounds Vikarna with twenty-five fast arrows, asserting dominance in that exchange of chariot combat.