Mahabharata 7.39.4 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 4
अभिमन्युना दुःशासनस्य ताडनम्
Abhimanyu’s Rebuke and Wounding of Duḥśāsana; Karṇa’s Counter-volley
अभिमन्यु: कृतोत्साह: कृतोत्साहानरिंदमान् | रथस्थो रथिन: सर्वास्तावकानभ्यवर्षयत्,अभिमन्यु युद्धके लिये उत्साहसे भरा था। वह रथपर बैठकर आपके उत्साहभरे शत्रुदमन समस्त रथारोहियोंपर बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगा
sañjaya uvāca |
abhimanyuḥ kṛtotsāhaḥ kṛtotsāhān ariṃdamān |
rathastho rathinaḥ sarvāstāvakān abhyavarṣayat ||
सञ्जय उवाच—अभिमन्युः कृतोत्साहः कृतोत्साहान् नरिन्दमान्। रथस्थो रथिनः सर्वान् तावकान् अभ्यवर्षयत्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: disciplined zeal (utsāha) and steadfastness in battle. Even in a morally fraught war, a warrior is portrayed as obligated to act with courage and effectiveness rather than hesitation.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Abhimanyu, mounted on his chariot and brimming with resolve, launches a fierce arrow-shower against the Kaurava chariot-fighters, driving the combat forward with aggressive momentum.
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