Shloka 24
Abhimanyu-śravaṇa-prastāva and Cakravyūha-vinyāsa
Prelude to Abhimanyu’s Account and the Wheel-Formation Deployment
बालमत्यन्तसुखिनं विचरन्तमभीतवत् | कृतास्त्रा बहवो जष्नुरब्रूहि गावल्गणे कथम्,संजय! वह अत्यन्त प्रसन्न रहनेवाला बालक जब निर्भय-सा होकर युद्धमें विचर रहा था, उस समय अस्त्रविद्याके पारंगत बहुसंख्यक शूरवीरोंने उसका वध कैसे किया? यह मुझे बताओ
bālam atyantasukhinaṃ vicarantam abhītavat | kṛtāstrā bahavo jaghnur abrūhi gāvalgaṇe katham, saṃjaya ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ, ଗାବଲ୍ଗଣ-ନନ୍ଦନ! ସେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନ ବାଳକ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଭୟହୀନ ଭଳି ରଣଭୂମିରେ ବିଚରଣ କରୁଥିଲା, ସେତେବେଳେ ଅସ୍ତ୍ରବିଦ୍ୟାରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ ଅନେକ ଶୂରବୀର ତାକୁ କିପରି ବଧ କଲେ? ମୋତେ କୁହ।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the moral shock of war: even youth, innocence, and apparent fearlessness offer no protection when conflict escalates. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s question highlights the ethical unease that arises when many skilled fighters converge to kill a single young combatant, prompting reflection on proportionality, compassion, and the tragic consequences of adharma-driven warfare.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing of events on the battlefield, asks Saṃjaya to explain the circumstances of a boy’s death. He emphasizes the boy’s cheerful, fearless conduct in battle and wonders how numerous weapon-trained heroes were able to kill him, indicating astonishment and grief at the manner of the killing.