Shloka 19
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो वयोवृद्धश्च भारत । प्रणष्टसंज्ञ: सहसा रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्,भरतनन्दन! उन बाणोंसे उन्हें गहरा आघात लगा। वे वयोवृद्ध तो थे ही, सहसा व्यथित एवं अचेत होकर रथके पिछले भागमें बैठ गये
sa gāḍhaviddho vyathito vayovṛddhaś ca bhārata | praṇaṣṭasaṃjñaḥ sahasā rathopasthe upāviśat ||
ਹੇ ਭਾਰਤਨੰਦਨ! ਉਹ ਤੀਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਗਹਿਰਾ ਜਖ਼ਮੀ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਉਮਰਦਰਾਜ਼ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਪੀੜ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਹਲ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ; ਅਚਾਨਕ ਬੇਹੋਸ਼ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਰਥ ਦੇ ਪਿੱਛਲੇ ਹਿੱਸੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਢਹਿ ਕੇ ਬੈਠ ਗਿਆ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the inevitability of bodily vulnerability and suffering in warfare: age and physical limits can overwhelm even a warrior, reminding the listener that violence carries immediate human costs and that strength is not absolute.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior, grievously pierced by arrows and being elderly, is suddenly overcome by pain, loses consciousness, and collapses into a seated position on the rear/seat area of the chariot.