Shloka 56
Omens and Consolation after Loss; Reaffirmation of the Saindhava Punishment Vow (उत्पात-दर्शनम्, आश्वासन-वाक्यानि, प्रतिज्ञा-स्थैर्यम्)
अभिमन्यु: परान् हत्वा प्रमुखे सर्वधन्विनाम्,महाधनुर्धर अभिमन्यु पूर्वजन्ममें चन्द्रमाका पुत्र था, वह महारथी वीर समरांगणमें समस्त धनुर्थरोंके सामने शत्रुओंका वध करके खड्ग, शक्ति, गदा और धनुषद्वारा सम्मुख युद्ध करता हुआ मारा गया है तथा दुःखरहित हो पुनः चन्द्रलोकमें ही चला गया है
abhimanyuḥ parān hatvā pramukhe sarva-dhanvinām | mahā-dhanur-dharaḥ abhimanyuḥ pūrva-janmani candramākaḥ putraḥ āsīt | sa mahā-rathī vīraḥ samarāṅgaṇe samasta-dhanurdharāṇāṃ samakṣaṃ śatrūn vadhitvā khaḍga-śakti-gadā-dhanuṣā sammukha-yuddhaṃ kurvan hataḥ | duḥkha-rahitaḥ punar eva candra-lokaṃ gataḥ ||
व्यास उवाच— अभिमन्युः परान् हत्वा प्रमुखे सर्वधन्विनाम्। स महाधनुर्धरः पूर्वजन्मनि सोमपुत्र आसीत्॥ स शूरो महाबाहुः खड्गशक्तिगदाधनुर्भिः सम्मुखं युध्यमानो हतः; दुःखरहितः पुनश्चन्द्रलोकमेव जगाम।
दैपायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a dharmic framing of heroic death: Abhimanyu fulfills the warrior’s duty by fighting openly and courageously, and his end is portrayed as a return to his higher origin rather than a meaningless loss—linking righteous action, destiny, and the soul’s onward journey.
Vyāsa reports that Abhimanyu fought at the very front, killing many enemies and engaging in direct combat with multiple weapons; he was then slain in battle and, being free from suffering, departed to the Moon-world, identified as his former celestial abode as the Moon’s son.