Droṇaparva Chapter -9 (Thirteenth day war – Part-3) – Death of Abhimanyu

 

द्रोणपर्व - Droṇaparva (त्रयोदश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग-३) - अभिमन्युवधः॥

अध्यायः – 9  ::Chapter-9 (Thirteenth day war – Part-3) – Death of Abhimanyu

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ युधिष्ठिरो भीमसेनः शिखण्डी सात्यकिर्यमौ । धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च सकेकयः ॥ धृष्टकेतुश्च संरब्धो मत्स्याश्चान्वपतन्रणे ॥ 1॥ अभ्यद्रवन्परीप्सन्तो व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः । तान्दृष्ट्वा द्रवतः शूरांस्त्वदीया विमुखाभवन् ॥ 2॥ ततस्तद्विमुखं दृष्ट्वा तव सूनोर्महद्बलम् । जामाता तव तेजस्वी विष्टम्भयिषुराद्रवत् ॥ 3॥ सैन्धवस्य महाराज पुत्रो राजा जयद्रथः । स पुत्रगृद्धिनः पार्थान्सहसैन्यानवारयत् ॥ 4॥ उग्रधन्वा महेष्वासो दिव्यमस्त्रमुदीरयन् । वार्धक्षत्रिरुपासेधत्प्रवणादिव कुञ्जरान् ॥ 5॥ तस्य ज्यातलघोषेण क्षत्रियान्भयमाविशत् । परांस्तु तव सैन्यस्य हर्षः परमकोऽभवत् ॥ 6॥ दृष्ट्वा तु क्षत्रिया भारं सैन्धवे सर्वमर्पितम् । उत्क्रुश्याभ्यद्रवन्राजन्येन यौधिष्ठिरं बलम् ॥ 7॥ स विस्फार्य महच्चापं किरन्निषुगणान्बहून् । तत्खण्डं पूरयामास यद्व्यदारयदार्जुनिः ॥ 8॥ स सात्यकिं त्रिभिर्बाणैरष्टभिश्च वृकोदरम् । धृष्टद्युम्नं तथा षष्ट्या विराटं दशभिः शरैः ॥ 9॥ द्रुपदं पञ्चभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्दशभिश्च शिखण्डिनम् । केकयान्पञ्चविंशत्या द्रौपदेयांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः ॥ 10॥ युधिष्ठिरं च सप्तत्या ततः शेषानपानुदत् । इषुजालेन महता तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥ 11॥ अथास्य शितपीतेन भल्लेनादिश्य कार्मुकम् । चिच्छेद प्रहसन्राजा धर्मपुत्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ 12॥ अक्ष्णोर्निमेषमात्रेण सोऽन्यदादाय कार्मुकम् । विव्याध दशभिः पार्थ तांश्चैवान्यांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः ॥ 13॥ तस्य तल्लाघवं ज्ञात्वा भीमो भल्लैस्त्रिभिः पुनः । धनुर्ध्वजं च छत्रं च क्षितौ क्षिप्रमपातयत् ॥ 14॥ सोऽन्यदादाय बलवान्सज्यं कृत्वा च कार्मुकम् । भीमस्यापोथयत्केतुं धनुरश्वांश्च मारिष ॥ 15॥ स हताश्वादवप्लुत्य छिन्नधन्वा रथोत्तमात् । सात्यकेराप्लुतो यानं गिर्यग्रमिव केसरी ॥ 16॥ ततस्त्वदीयाः संहृष्टाः साधु साध्विति चुक्रुशुः । सिन्धुराजस्य तत्कर्म प्रेक्ष्याश्रद्धेयमुत्तमम् ॥ 17॥ सङ्क्रुद्धान्पाण्डवानेको यद्दधारास्त्रतेजसा । तत्तस्य कर्म भूतानि सर्वाण्येवाभ्यपूजयन् ॥ 18॥ सौभद्रेण हतैः पूर्वं सोत्तरायुधिभिर्द्विपैः । पाण्डूनां दर्शितः पन्थाः सैन्धवेन निवारितः ॥ 19॥ यतमानास्तु ते वीरा मत्स्यपाञ्चालकेकयाः । पाण्डवाश्चान्वपद्यन्त प्रत्यैकश्येन सैन्धवम् ॥ 20॥ स शक्र इव विक्रान्तः शक्रसूनोः सुतो बली । अभिमन्युस्तदानीकं लोडयन्बह्वशोभत ॥ 21॥ प्रविश्यैव तु राजेन्द्र क्षत्रियेन्द्रान्तकोपमः । सत्यश्रवसमादत्त व्याघ्रो मृगमिवोल्बणम् ॥ 22॥ अथ रुक्मरथो नाम मद्रेश्वरसुतो बली । त्रस्तामाश्वासयन्सेनामत्रस्तो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 23॥ अलं त्रासेन वः शूरा नैष कश्चिन्मयि स्थिते । अहमेनं ग्रहीष्यामि जीवग्राहं न संशयः ॥ 24॥ एवमुक्त्वा तु सौभद्रमभिदुद्राव वीर्यवान् । सुकल्पितेनोह्यमानः स्यन्दनेन विराजता ॥ 25॥ सोऽभिमन्युं त्रिभिर्बाणैर्विद्ध्वा वक्षस्यथानदत् । त्रिभिश्च दक्षिणे बाहौ सव्ये च निशितैस्त्रिभिः ॥ 26॥ स तस्येष्वसनं छित्त्वा फाल्गुणिः सव्यदक्षिणौ । भुजौ शिरश्च स्वक्षिभ्रु क्षितौ क्षिप्रमपातयत् ॥ 27॥ सङ्ग्रामदुर्मदा राजन्राजपुत्राः प्रहारिणः । वयस्याः शल्यपुत्रस्य सुवर्णविकृतध्वजाः ॥ 28॥ तालमात्राणि चापानि विकर्षन्तो महारथाः । आर्जुनिं शरवर्षेण समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् ॥ 29॥ शूरैः शिक्षाबलोपेतैस्तरुणैरत्यमर्षणैः । दृष्ट्वैकं समरे शूरं सौभद्रमपराजितम् ॥ 30॥ छाद्यमानं शरव्रातैर्हृष्टो दुर्योधनोऽभवत् । वैवस्वतस्य भवनं गतमेनममन्यत ॥ 31॥ रथचर्यास्त्रमायाभिर्मोहयित्वा परन्तपः । बिभेद शतधा राजञ्शरीराणि महीक्षिताम् ॥ 32॥ क्रुद्धाशीविषसङ्काशान्सुकुमारान्सुखोचितान् । एकेन निहतान्दृष्ट्वा भीतो दुर्योधनोऽभवत् ॥ 33॥	33 (543)
Sanjaya said, 'Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Sikhandin, Satyaki, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, Drupada, Kekaya, and Dhristaketu – all consumed by fury – along with the Matsya warrior, charged into battle. Abhimanyu's fathers, flanked by his maternal uncles, fierce warriors all, advanced in formation along the path Abhimanyu had carved out, eager to save him. Seeing these heroes surge forward, your troops faltered and retreated. Witnessing his vast army retreating, the powerful son-in-law of Dhritarashtra hastened to rally them.  King Jayadratha, the Sindhu ruler's son, with his entire force, blocked the Parthas who were trying to rescue their son. That formidable archer, son of Vriddhakshatra, summoned celestial weapons, repelling the Pandavas like an elephant playing in the mud.' The snap of his bowstring and the thud of his palms filled enemy warriors with dread, but energized your troops. Seeing the Sindhu ruler take charge, the Kurus roared and surged towards the section of the battlefield occupied by Yudhishthira's army. Drawing his great bow, Jayadratha unleashed a storm of arrows, plugging the gaps created by Arjuna's son.  He struck Satyaki with three arrows, Vrikodara with eight, Dhrishtadyumna with sixty, Drupada with five sharp arrows, and Sikhandin with ten. Then, riddling the Kaikeyas with twenty-five arrows, he pierced each of Draupadi's five sons with three arrows. Finally, striking Yudhishthira with seventy arrows, the Sindhu king pounded the rest of the Pandava army with a torrent of shafts. His feat was truly remarkable.  Then, great king Yudhishthira's brave son, aiming at Jayadratha's bow, cleanly severed it with a swift, sharp arrow—all while smiling. In a blink, the Sindh ruler grabbed another bow, piercing Yudhishthira with ten arrows and each of the others with three. Seeing Jayadratha’s speed, Bhima quickly struck down his bow, banner, and umbrella with three broad arrows. The powerful Jayadratha strung yet another bow, then brought down Bhima's banner, bow, and horses. With his bow destroyed, Bhima leapt from his now horseless chariot and onto Satyaki's, like a lion scaling a peak. Seeing this, your troops cheered wildly, shouting, 'Bravo! Excellent!' They applauded the Sindh ruler's feat. Everyone hailed his solo resistance against the enraged Pandavas. The path Abhimanyu had cleared through carnage was now blocked by Jayadratha. Despite their best efforts, the Matsyas, Panchalas, Kaikeyas, and Pandavas reached Jayadratha, but none could overcome him.  Abhimanyu, as powerful as Sakra himself, and son of Sakra’s son, stirred up the Katirava army, shining with exceptional brilliance. He pierced into their ranks, like Yama, seizing Satvasravas as a tiger snatches a deer. Rukmaratha, the Madra king's son, trying to reassure his frightened troops, boldly declared, 'Have no fear! With me here, what is Abhimanyu? I will capture him alive.’  With these words, the brave prince charged at Abhimanyu in his well-equipped chariot. He struck Abhimanyu with three arrows in the chest, three in the right arm, and three in the left, roaring loudly. But Phalguni's son swiftly cut off his bow, both arms, and his head—adorned with fine eyes and brows—sending them to the ground. Seeing Rukmaratha, Salya's honored son, slain by Subhadra's illustrious son—Rukmaratha who vowed to capture or kill his foe—many of Salya's son's princely friends, skilled in battle and hard to defeat, advanced with gold-decked standards to fight.  Those powerful chariot warriors, drawing their bows to a full six cubits, encircled Arjuna's son, showering him with arrows. Seeing Subhadra's brave and unbeatable son facing all those furious princes alone, princes of such skill and might gained through practice, strength, and youth, and seeing him blanketed by arrows, Duryodhana was overjoyed, thinking Abhimanyu already dead. He confounded his enemies with his car-handling skills and his weapons, cutting the kings against him into a hundred pieces. Seeing those young princes, raised in luxury and like venomous snakes, all slain by Abhimanyu alone, Duryodhana was filled with dread.
सञ्जय उवाच॥ संशुष्कास्याश्चलन्नेत्राः प्रस्विन्ना लोमहर्षिणः । पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये ॥ 1॥ तान्प्रभग्नांस्तथा दृष्ट्वा द्रोणो द्रौणिर्बृहद्बलः । कृपो दुर्योधनः कर्णः कृतवर्माथ सौबलः ॥ 2॥ अभिद्रुताः सुसङ्क्रुद्धाः सौभद्रमपराजितम् । तेऽपि पौत्रेण ते राजन्प्रायशो विमुखीकृताः ॥ 3॥ एकस्तु सुखसंवृद्धो बाल्याद्दर्पाच्च निर्भयः । इष्वस्त्रविन्महातेजा लक्ष्मणोऽऽर्जुनिमभ्ययात् ॥ 4॥ तमन्वगेवास्य पिता पुत्रगृद्धी न्यवर्तत । अनु दुर्योधनं चान्ये न्यवर्तन्त महारथाः ॥ 5॥ तं तेऽभिषिषिचुर्बाणैर्मेघा गिरिमिवाम्बुभिः । स च तान्प्रममाथैको विष्वग्वातो यथाम्बुदान् ॥ 6॥ पौत्रं तु तव दुर्धर्षं लक्ष्मणं प्रियदर्शनम् । पितुः समीपे तिष्ठन्तं शूरमुद्यतकार्मुकम् ॥ 7॥ अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धं धनेश्वरसुतोपमम् । आससाद रणे कार्ष्णिर्मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम् ॥ 8॥ लक्ष्मणेन तु सङ्गम्य सौभद्रः परवीरहा । शरैः सुनिशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पितः ॥ 9॥ सङ्क्रुद्धो वै महाबाहुर्दण्डाहत इवोरगः । पौत्रस्तव महाराज तव पौत्रमभाषत ॥ 10॥ सुदृष्टः क्रियतां लोको अमुं लोकं गमिष्यसि । पश्यतां बान्धवानां त्वां नयामि यमसादनम् ॥ 11॥ एवमुक्त्वा ततो भल्लं सौभद्रः परवीरहा । उद्बबर्ह महाबाहुर्निर्मुक्तोरगसंनिभम् ॥ 12॥ स तस्य भुजनिर्मुक्तो लक्ष्मणस्य सुदर्शनम् । सुनसं सुभ्रु केशान्तं शिरोऽहार्षीत्सकुण्डलम् ॥ लक्ष्मणं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हा हेत्युच्चुक्रुशुर्जनाः ॥ 13॥ ततो दुर्योधनः क्रुद्धः प्रिये पुत्रे निपातिते । हतैनमिति चुक्रोश क्षत्रियान्क्षत्रियर्षभः ॥ 14। स तान्विद्ध्वा शितैर्बाणैर्विमुखीकृत्य चार्जुनिः । वेगेनाभ्यपतत्क्रुद्धः सैन्धवस्य महद्बलम् ॥ 15॥ आवव्रुस्तस्य पन्थानं गजानीकेन दंशिताः । कलिङ्गाश्च निषादाश्च क्राथपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ 16 तत्प्रसक्तमिवात्यर्थं युद्धमासीद्विशां पते ॥ ततस्तत्कुञ्जरानीकं व्यधमद्धृष्टमार्जुनिः ॥ 17। यथा विवान्नित्यगतिर्जलदाञ्शतशोऽम्बरे ॥ शरौघेणाप्रमेयेण त्वरमाणो जिघांसया ॥ 18॥ सधनुर्बाणकेयूरौ बाहू समुकुटं शिरः । छत्रं ध्वजं नियन्तारमश्वांश्चास्य न्यपातयत् ॥ 19॥ कुलशीलश्रुतबलैः कीर्त्या चास्त्रबलेन च । युक्ते तस्मिन्हते वीराः प्रायशो विमुखाभवन् ॥ 20॥ तं सौबलस्त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत् । सर्व एनं प्रमथ्नीमः पुरैकैकं हिनस्ति नः ॥ 21॥ अथाब्रवीत्तदा द्रोणं कर्णो वैकर्तनो वृषा । पुरा सर्वान्प्रमथ्नाति ब्रूह्यस्य वधमाशु नः ॥ 22॥ ततो द्रोणो महेष्वासः सर्वांस्तान्प्रत्यभाषत । आरुजन्निव मे प्राणान्मोहयन्नपि सायकैः । प्रहर्षयति मा भूयः सौभद्रः परवीरहा ॥ 23॥ अति मा नन्दयत्येष सौभद्रो विचरन्रणे । अभेद्यमस्य कवचं युवा चाशुपराक्रमः ॥ 24॥ उपदिष्टा मया अस्य पितुः कवचधारणा । तामेष निखिलां वेत्ति ध्रुवं परपुरञ्जयः ॥ 25॥ शक्यं त्वस्य धनुश्छेत्तुं ज्यां च बाणैः समाहितैः । अथैनं विमुखीकृत्य पश्चात्प्रहरणं कुरु ॥ 26॥ सधनुष्को न शक्योऽयमपि जेतुं सुरासुरैः । विरथं विधनुष्कं च कुरुष्वैनं यदीच्छसि ॥ 27॥ तदाचार्यवचः श्रुत्वा कर्णो वैकर्तनस्त्वरन् । अस्यतो लघुहस्तस्य पृषत्कैर्धनुराच्छिनत् ॥ 28॥ अश्वानस्यावधीद्भोजो गौतमः पार्ष्णिसारथी । शेषास्तु छिन्नधन्वानं शरवर्षैरवाकिरन् ॥ 29॥ त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले विरथं षण्महारथाः । शरवर्षैरकरुणा बालमेकमवाकिरन् ॥ 30॥ स छिन्नधन्वा विरथः स्वधर्ममनुपालयन् । खड्गचर्मधरः श्रीमानुत्पपात विहायसम् ॥ 31॥ तस्य द्रोणोऽच्छिनन्मुष्टौ खड्गं मणिमयत्सरुम् । राधेयो निशितैर्बाणैर्व्यधमच्चर्म चोत्तमम् ॥ 32॥ व्यसिचर्मेषुपूर्णाङ्गः सोऽन्तरिक्षात्पुनः क्षितिम् । आस्थितश्चक्रमुद्यम्य द्रोणं क्रुद्धोऽभ्यधावत ॥ 33॥ मारुतोद्धूतकेशान्तमुद्यतारिवरायुधम् । वपुः समीक्ष्य पृथ्वीशा दुःसमीक्ष्यं सुरैरपि ॥ 34॥ तच्चक्रं भृशमुद्विग्नाः सञ्चिच्छिदुरनेकधा । महारथस्ततः कार्ष्णिः सञ्जग्राह महागदाम् ॥ 35॥ विधनुःस्यन्दनासिस्तैर्विचक्रश्चारिभिः कृतः । अभिमन्युर्गदापाणिरश्वत्थामानमाद्रवत् ॥ 36॥ स गदामुद्यतां दृष्ट्वा ज्वलन्तीमशनीमिव । अपाक्रामद्रथोपस्थाद्विक्रमांस्त्रीन्नरर्षभः ॥ 37॥ तस्याश्वान्गदया हत्वा तथोभौ पार्ष्णिसारथी । शराचिताङ्गः सौभद्रः श्वाविद्वत्प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ 38॥ ततः सुबलदायादं कालकेयमपोथयत् । जघान चास्यानुचरान्गान्धारान्सप्तसप्ततिम् ॥ 39॥ पुनर्ब्रह्मवसातीयाञ्जघान रथिनो दश । केकयानां रथान्सप्त हत्वा च दश कुञ्जरान् ॥ दौःशासनिरथं साश्वं गदया समपोथयत् ॥ 40॥ ततो दौःशासनिः क्रुद्धो गदामुद्यम्य मारिष । अभिदुद्राव सौभद्रं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥ 41॥ तावुद्यतगदौ वीरावन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ । भ्रातृव्यौ सम्प्रजह्राते पुरेव त्र्यम्बकान्तकौ ॥ 42॥ तावन्योन्यं गदाग्राभ्यां संहत्य पतितौ क्षितौ । इन्द्रध्वजाविवोत्सृष्टौ रणमध्ये परन्तपौ ॥ 43॥ दौःशासनिरथोत्थाय कुरूणां कीर्तिवर्धनः । प्रोत्तिष्ठमानं सौभद्रं गदया मूर्ध्न्यताडयत् ॥ 44॥ गदावेगेन महता व्यायामेन च मोहितः । विचेता न्यपतद्भूमौ सौभद्रः परवीरहा ॥ एवं विनिहतो राजन्नेको बहुभिराहवे ॥ 45॥ क्षोभयित्वा चमूं सर्वां नलिनीमिव कुञ्जरः । अशोभत हतो वीरो व्याधैर्वनगजो यथा ॥ 46॥	46 (589)
Sanjaya said, 'Their mouths went dry, their eyes darted about nervously. Sweat drenched their bodies, and their hair stood on end. Losing all hope of defeating their enemy, they prepared to flee the battlefield.' 'Seeing them shattered and scattered, Drona and his son, along with Vrihadvala, Kripa, Duryodhana, Karna, Kritavarman, and Suvala's son (Sakuni), charged with intense fury at Subhadra's undefeated son. Almost all of them, O King, were driven back by your grandson. Only Lakshmana, raised in luxury, skilled with arrows, full of energy, and fearless due to his inexperience and arrogance, advanced toward Arjuna's son. Worried about his own son, his father (Duryodhana) turned back to follow him. Other mighty chariot warriors followed Duryodhana's lead. Together, they bombarded Abhimanyu with a storm of arrows, like rain clouds unleashing on a mountainside. Abhimanyu, alone, began to crush them, like a scorching wind scattering storm clouds in every direction. Like one enraged elephant charging another, Arjuna's son clashed with your seemingly invincible grandson, Lakshmana, a handsome and brave youth, staying close to his father with bow drawn, pampered from birth, resembling a prince of the Yakshas.' Face to face with Lakshmana, that vanquisher of enemy champions—Subhadra's son!—Abhimanyu's arms and chest were pierced by sharp arrows. Thy grandson, the mighty Abhimanyu, enraged like a struck serpent, O king, addressed thy other grandson: 'Gaze upon this world, for you'll soon depart to the next. Before your kin, I'll send you to Yama's realm.' Thus spoke Subhadra's powerful son, and drew a broad-headed arrow, like a snake shedding its skin. That shaft, released by Abhimanyu, severed the fair head of Lakshmana, adorned with earrings, a noble nose, fine brows, and handsome curls. Witnessing Lakshmana's death, thy troops cried out in dismay. Duryodhana, grief-stricken by his son's demise, flew into a rage. The foremost of warriors then loudly commanded his Kshatriyas, 'Kill him!'  Arjuna's son, striking them with sharp arrows and driving them back, charged with great speed and fury into Jayadratha's vast forces. At once, the Kalingas, the Nishadas, and Kratha's brave son, all in armour, blocked his way, surrounding him with their elephant division. The ensuing battle between Phalguni's son and these warriors was fierce and relentless. Then, Arjuna's son began to annihilate that elephant division, like wind scattering gathering clouds across the sky. Abhimanyu cut down Kratha's bow, arrows, bracelets, arms, his diadem-crowned head, umbrella, standard, charioteer, and steeds. With the death of Kratha's noble, virtuous, learned, strong, famous, and powerful son, almost all the other heroic fighters retreated from the battle.  Shakuni, piercing Abhimanyu with three arrows, said to Duryodhana, 'Let's crush this one together; otherwise, he will kill us all one by one. O king, consult with Drona, Kripa, and the others to find a way to slay him.' Karna, Vikartana's son, said to Drona, 'Abhimanyu is overpowering us. tell us how we can kill him.' Drona, the mighty archer, addressing them all, responded, 'Indeed, this slayer of enemy heroes, Subhadra's son, pleases me, even as he hurts my breath and stuns me with arrows. Abhimanyu is young but remarkably valiant, with impenetrable armour. His father was taught defensive armouring by me. This conqueror of enemy cities knows the entire science of wearing armour. But with well-aimed arrows, you can sever his bow, bowstring, the reins, the steeds themselves, and his two chariot protectors.'  With his bow in hand, he is invincible, even against gods and demons combined. If you want a chance, strip him of his chariot and disarm him.' Upon hearing this advice from their strategist, Karna, Vikartana's son, swiftly shattered Abhimanyu's bow with a volley of arrows as the young warrior fought fiercely. Kritavarman of the Bhoja lineage then struck down his horses, while Kripa eliminated his two chariot drivers. Once disarmed, the six great warriors relentlessly bombarded him with arrows. These chariot warriors, acting swiftly in concert, mercilessly assailed the defenceless youth, who confronted them without his chariot, under a rain of arrows. Though without bow or chariot, and ever mindful of his duty as a warrior, the valiant Abhimanyu gracefully leapt into the air, armed with a sword and shield. Drona, a warrior of immense power and vanquisher of foes, quickly severed the jewel-encrusted hilt of Abhimanyu's sword with a well-aimed arrow. Karna, son of Radha, then shattered his magnificent shield with a barrage of sharp arrows. Thus disarmed, and stripped of both sword and shield, he descended from the sky to the earth, body sound, and resolute to fight on. Seizing a chariot wheel, he charged furiously toward Drona. The kings, witnessing this, watched with grave unease, and shattered the wheel in his hands into a hundred scattered pieces. Undeterred, the mighty warrior, Arjuna's son, picked up a heavy mace. Deprived of his bow, chariot, sword, and now his wheel, the powerful Abhimanyu rushed at Aswatthaman, mace raised high. Seeing the raised mace, resembling a blazing thunderbolt, Aswatthaman, a tiger among men, quickly abandoned his chariot and took three great leaps backward to escape Abhimanyu's onslaught. With mighty blows of the mace, Abhimanyu eliminated Aswatthaman’s horses and chariot drivers and stood pierced with arrows, resembling a porcupine.  Then, that valiant warrior forced Kalikeya, Subala's son, into the ground, slaughtering seventy-seven of his Gandhara followers. He then slew ten Brahma-Vasatiya chariot warriors, followed by ten enormous elephants. Approaching Duhsasana's son's chariot, he crushed the chariot and horses, driving them into the earth. The seemingly invincible son of Duhsasana then grabbed his mace and charged at Abhimanyu, yelling, 'Hold on!' The cousins, both heroes, raised their maces and began to fight, each seeking the other's demise, like Mahadeva and the Asura Andhaka in ancient times. Each foe-punisher struck the other with his mace, both falling like uprooted Indra banners. Duhsasana's son, rising first, struck Abhimanyu's head with the mace as he was getting up. Stunned by the blow and utterly exhausted, the host-slayer, Subhadra's son, collapsed, unconscious. Thus, O king, was one slain by many in battle, one who had crushed the entire army like an elephant trampling lotus stems in a lake.

 

इति श्री जयसंहिते  द्रोणपर्वणि नवमोऽध्यायः॥

Droṇaparva Chapter- 8

Droṇaparva Chapter- 10