Shloka 23
दुर्योधनकवचविमर्शः
Duryodhana’s Armor and the Tactical Reassessment
अनुयातश्च पितरं मातृपक्षं च वीर्यवान् सहस्रशो रिपून् हत्वा हत: शूरो महारथ:,बलवान, शूरवीर और महारथी अभिमन्यु पितृकुल तथा मातृकुलकी मर्यादाका अनुसरण करते हुए सहस्रों शत्रुओंको मारकर मरा है
anuyātaś ca pitaraṁ mātṛpakṣaṁ ca vīryavān | sahasraśo ripūn hatvā hataḥ śūro mahārathaḥ ||
Vāyu berkata: “Wira yang perkasa itu menuruti tata dharma mulia dari garis ayahnya dan garis ibunya. Setelah menewaskan musuh beribu-ribu, pahlawan gagah—seorang maharathi, pejuang kereta agung—akhirnya gugur juga. Kematian itu menjadi saksi keteguhan pada dharma keluarga dan keberanian tanpa gentar di medan perang.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises unwavering adherence to one’s inherited dharma—honoring both paternal and maternal family codes—while highlighting the Kṣatriya ideal of courage and self-sacrifice: a hero may fall, yet his ethical steadfastness and valor remain exemplary.
Vāyu describes the fallen warrior (contextually Abhimanyu) as having upheld the honor of both sides of his family and having fought with extraordinary prowess, killing vast numbers of enemies before being slain.