Shloka 10
Abhimanyu’s Śrāddha; Vyāsa’s Assurance of the Unborn Heir (अभिमन्योः श्राद्धं तथा गर्भरक्षणोपदेशः)
किमब्रवीत् त्वां संग्रामे सुभद्रां मातरं प्रति
Vaiśampāyana uvāca:
kim abravīt tvāṁ saṅgrāme Subhadrāṁ mātaraṁ prati,
kaccin mukhaṁ na Govinda tenājau vikṛtaṁ kṛtam |
Vaiśampāyana disse: “O que ele te disse no campo de batalha a respeito de sua mãe, Subhadrā? E, ó Govinda, seu rosto não se deformou naquela luta? Teria ele, por medo, encontrado a morte após voltar as costas, ou caiu sem perder a compostura?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle: even in death, one should not succumb to fear, turn one’s back, or lose composure. It also reflects the ethical weight placed on courage and honorable conduct as measures of dharma in warfare.
Vaiśampāyana reports a question addressed to Kṛṣṇa (Govinda) about Abhimanyu’s final moments: what message he conveyed regarding his mother Subhadrā, and whether he died with courage—without fear, disgrace, or a distorted face—thus probing the manner of his death and his adherence to warrior honor.