Mahabharata (Gita Press) 7.39.5 - Drona Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 5
अभिमन्युना दुःशासनस्य ताडनम्
Abhimanyu’s Rebuke and Wounding of Duḥśāsana; Karṇa’s Counter-volley
द्रोणं कर्ण कृपं शल्यं द्रौ्णिं भोजं बृहदूबलम् । दुर्योधनं सौमदत्ति शकुनिं च महाबलम्
sañjaya uvāca |
droṇaṁ karṇaṁ kṛpaṁ śalyaṁ drauṇiṁ bhojaṁ bṛhadbalam |
duryodhanaṁ saumadattiṁ śakuniṁ ca mahābalam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—द्रोणं कर्णं कृपं शल्यं द्रौणिं भोजं बृहद्बलम्। दुर्योधनं सौमदत्तिं शकुनिं च महाबलम्॥ अलातचक्रवद् भ्रान्त्वा सर्वतोऽभ्यपतद् बाणैः॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral strain of war: extraordinary personal valor can coexist with ethically troubling circumstances when many renowned elders and commanders converge against a single youthful fighter. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma (courage and steadfastness) alongside the limits of fairness in battle.
Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu is rapidly circling and shooting arrows in all directions, attacking leading Kaurava warriors—Droṇa, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Śalya, Aśvatthāmā, Kṛtavarmā, Bṛhadbala, Duryodhana, Bhūriśravas, and Śakuni—along with many other kings, princes, and their troops.
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