Mahabharata 7.43.17 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 43, Shloka 17
अभिमन्योर् दारुणः संमर्दः
Abhimanyu’s fierce melee amid chariot formations
सौभद्रेण हतै: पूर्व सोत्तरायोधिभिर्दिपै: । पाण्डूनां दर्शित: पन्था: सैन्धवेन निवारित:
saubhadreṇa hataiḥ pūrvaṃ sottarāyodhibhir dvipaiḥ | pāṇḍūnāṃ darśitaḥ panthāḥ saindhavena nivāritaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Sebelumnya, melalui gajah-gajah yang telah dibunuh oleh Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)—bersama para pemandunya—terbukalah satu laluan yang jelas bagi Pāṇḍava, suatu jalan menembusi himpitan medan perang. Namun laluan yang sama itu disekat kembali oleh putera Sindhu (Jayadratha), yang berdiri sebagai penghalang kemaraan mereka.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war, openings created by valor and sacrifice can be swiftly nullified by counter-strategy; the verse highlights how individual heroism (Abhimanyu’s clearing of a way) must contend with deliberate obstruction (Jayadratha’s blocking), underscoring the ethical tension between righteous aim and tactical resistance.
Abhimanyu has earlier cut down elephants and their riders, creating a clear passage for the Pāṇḍavas’ forces. Jayadratha, the Sindhu prince, then prevents the Pāṇḍavas from using that route, halting their advance.
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