Mahabharata Companion

Abhimanyu's Incomparable Power

Part 2 / Chapter 15 / 83 chapters

Chapter15 / 35
Part 2Chapter 15

Abhimanyu's Incomparable Power

draws south again while forms the chakravyuha around . asks sixteen-year-old to break it. warns that he knows how to enter but not escape; even his charioteer cautions him, but , , and the other chiefs promise to follow closely. The youth pierces the array and devastates the Kaurava host, defeating , , Salya, Asvatthama, and Dushashana and killing many warriors. , empowered by Siva's boon, holds the four Pandava brothers outside the breach that opened. At 's urging the Kaurava chiefs abandon fair combat. directs six warriors to attack together: cuts 's bow, Krtavarma kills his horses, Asvatthama his driver, and Krpa attack from the front, and attacks from the rear. continues with sword, chariot wheel, and mace, killing more opponents before a mace duel with Dushashana's son leaves both fighters unconscious. rises first and strikes the exhausted boy dead. Celestial sages condemn the killing. Outside the formation, first consoles the warriors before blaming himself and dreading how he will face ; then consoles him and explains the boon that allowed to bar the rescuers.

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This guide follows Krishna Dharma's retelling as the source of truth. This panel notes broad edition-level framing or compression that helps a reader orient themselves.

Abhimanyu enters with explicit knowledge of the danger only because his elders promise to follow. Krishna Dharma therefore makes his death hinge on both extraordinary courage and a chain of broken expectations, ending in a collective attack that the text itself condemns as unfair.
Key Events
  1. 1

    is drawn south again

    and the surviving Samshaptakas challenge and maneuver him away from the main army. uses his absence to form the circular chakravyuha.

  2. 2

    asks to enter

    Only , Krsna, Pradyumna, and know how to break the array. asks the sixteen-year-old prince to open a path before captures him.

  3. 3

    names the danger

    says he learned how to enter the chakravyuha but was never taught how to leave it. His charioteer Sumitra warns him not to take on 's army, but dismisses the danger. , , Drstadyumna, Satyaki, and the allied chiefs promise to follow immediately behind him.

  4. 4

    breaks the chakravyuha

    strikes with a stunning volley, passes through, and tears a large gap in the formation. and the allied chiefs immediately try to follow through the breach.

  5. 5

    devastates the inner ranks

    Moving alone inside the formation, destroys chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry in every direction. His speed and precision astonish even .

  6. 6

    The Kaurava chiefs cannot stop him

    calls the chiefs to save as wounds or stuns , , Salya, Asvatthama, and other senior warriors and kills the Ashmaka ruler and a Madra prince.

  7. 7

    defeats Dushashana

    rebukes Dushashana for the dice hall outrage and strikes him unconscious. Dushashana's charioteer carries him from the fight.

  8. 8

    retreats from

    shatters 's standard and armor and wounds him until he flees. When 's foster brother charges in support, kills him and returns to the massed Kaurava chiefs.

  9. 9

    bars the rescuers

    confronts , , Nakula, Sahadeva, and their allies at the breach. Empowered by Siva's boon, he holds all four brothers outside while the chakravyuha closes around .

  10. 10

    Six chiefs disarm together

    urges to abandon single combat, and devises a combined attack despite recognizing that the method violates warrior ethics. cuts 's bow from behind, Krtavarma kills his horses, Asvatthama kills his driver, and Krpa attack from the front, and attacks from the rear.

  11. 11

    fights with sword and wheel

    Weaponless and on foot, attacks with sword and shield until and destroy them. He then lifts a chariot wheel, advances under a storm of missiles, and keeps fighting until the wheel is shattered.

  12. 12

    kills the exhausted prince

    takes up a mace, kills Kalikeya and more warriors, and meets Dushashana's son . Both fall unconscious in their mace duel, but rises first and strikes the exhausted on the crown as he tries to stand.

  13. 13

    The heavens condemn the killing

    The Kauravas celebrate, but celestial sages declare it unrighteous for many maharathas to destroy one unprotected youth. At sunset, news of 's death reaches outside the formation.

  14. 14

    consoles

    first consoles the grieving warriors, then blames himself for sending into the array and dreads facing and Subhadra. counsels him on death and explains that Siva granted power to hold all the Pandavas except for one day.