Mahabharata 7.49.39 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 49, Shloka 39
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 49: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament and Strategic Foreboding after Abhimanyu’s Fall
रथाश्वनरमातड़ान् विनिहत्य सहख्रश: । अवितृप्त: स संग्रामादशोच्य: पुण्यकर्मकृत् । गत: पुण्यकृतां लोकान् शाश्चतान् पुण्यनिर्जितान्
rathāśva-nara-mātaḍān vinihatya sahasraśaḥ | avitṛptaḥ sa saṅgrāmād aśocyaḥ puṇya-karma-kṛt | gataḥ puṇya-kṛtāṁ lokān śāśvatān puṇya-nirjitān ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਰਥਾਂ, ਘੋੜਿਆਂ, ਪੈਦਲ ਸੈਨਿਕਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਹਾਥੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਯੁੱਧ ਨਾਲ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤ ਨਾ ਹੋਇਆ। ਪੁੰਨ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਹ ਸ਼ੋਕਯੋਗ ਨਹੀਂ; ਉਹ ਪੁੰਨਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੁੰਨ ਨਾਲ ਜਿੱਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਸ਼ਾਸ਼ਵਤ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋਇਆ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reframes grief through dharma: a warrior who acts with merit and courage is 'aśocya'—not to be lamented—because such virtue is believed to lead to enduring, meritorious realms after death.
Sanjaya describes Abhimanyu’s battlefield prowess—slaying vast numbers across chariots, horses, infantry, and elephants—and then consoles by stating that despite his death, his righteous conduct has carried him to eternal worlds attained by merit.
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