Shloka 23
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
ततो रथानां प्रमुखादुपेत्य सर्वस्त्रवित् काउ्चनचित्रवर्मा | जवेन शूरो5भिससार सर्वा- स्तानर्जुनस्यात्मसुतो$भिमन्यु:
tato rathānāṃ pramukhād upetya sarvāstravit kāñcanacitravarmā | javena śūro 'bhisasāra sarvāṃs tān arjunasya ātmasuto 'bhimanyuḥ || tadanantaraṃ sampūrṇāstrāṇāṃ jñātā sone ke vicitra kavaca dhāraṇa karanevālā śūravīra arjunaputra abhimanyune eka śreṣṭha rathake dvārā vegapūrvaka vahāṃ pahuṃcakara una samasta kaurava mahārathiyoṃpara dhāvā kiyā | athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣipram eva samārpayat | aśvān āsyāvad hīd rājan ubhau tau pārṣṇisārathī || rājan! tatpaścāt unhoṃne śīghra hī pacīsa bāṇoṃse śalyaputrako ghāyal kara diyā tathā usake ghoṛoṃ evaṃ donoṃ pṛṣṭharakṣakoṃko bhī mṛtyuke mukhameṃ ḍāla diyā ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Pagkaraan, lumapit sa pinakaharap ng hanay ng mga karwahe si Abhimanyu—sariling anak ni Arjuna, bihasa sa lahat ng sandata at may suot na kahanga-hangang baluting ginto—at sa matinding bilis ay sinalakay ang lahat ng dakilang mandirigmang-karwahe ng mga Kaurava. Pagkatapos nito, mabilis niyang tinamaan ang anak ni Śalya ng dalawampu’t limang palaso; at, O Hari, pinatay rin niya ang mga kabayo nito at ang dalawang tagapagtanggol sa likuran ng karwaheng iyon.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma as disciplined mastery and fearless engagement at the front line, while implicitly reminding the reader that even rightful duty in war entails severe harm—an ethical tension central to the Mahābhārata’s portrayal of battle.
Abhimanyu, described as a complete master of weapons and splendidly armored, rushes to the forefront and attacks the Kaurava great chariot-warriors; he then quickly wounds Śalya’s son with twenty-five arrows and kills the horses and the two rear-guard attendants of that chariot.