Shloka 11
Abhimanyu’s Śrāddha; Vyāsa’s Assurance of the Unborn Heir (अभिमन्योः श्राद्धं तथा गर्भरक्षणोपदेशः)
मां चापि पुण्डरीकाक्ष चपलाक्ष: प्रियो मम । आहवं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा कच्चिन्न निहत: परै:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: māṁ cāpi puṇḍarīkākṣa capalākṣaḥ priyo mama | āhavaṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā kaccin na nihataḥ paraiḥ, kaccin mukhaṁ na govinda tenāji vikṛtaṁ kṛtam ||
पुण्डरीकाक्ष, चपलाक्षः प्रियो ममाभिमन्युः मां च मातरं सुभद्रां च किमाह? कच्चिद् आहवे पृष्ठतः कृत्वा परैर्निहतः? गोविन्द, कच्चिन्मुखं तेनाजौ विकृतं कृतम्?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage: dying while facing the enemy is treated as honorable, while being slain after turning one’s back is feared as a moral blemish. It also shows how grief seeks ethical reassurance—mourning asks not only ‘what happened’ but ‘did he uphold dharma under pressure?’
A grieving elder (speaking through Vaiśampāyana’s narration) questions Kṛṣṇa about Abhimanyu’s final moments—what last message he left for his family, and whether he fell without retreat or panic. The questions aim to confirm Abhimanyu’s valor and composure at death.