Abhimanyu

The Mahabharata, Vedas, Ramayana, and other ancient texts fascinate me so much that sometimes I wish I could acquire all the knowledge about them in a single day.

The characters of these epics captivate me so much that I dream of writing extensively about them—enough to fill entire libraries.

But every time I sit down to write about these legendary figures, I find myself at a loss for words. It feels as though, despite all my research, there is still so much more to learn about them. This endless pursuit of knowledge keeps pulling me back into their world.

When I tried writing about Abhimanyu, I couldn’t write a single line at first.?

But I tried again and here is the try!

Abhimanyu was a warrior so fearless that he entered the Chakravyuha, knowing it could be his last day. Heroes like him are born only once in an era. In our Indian army, many such "Abhimanyus" have been born, and more will continue to rise, protecting our nation and allowing us to live in peace.

Abhimanyu, the great warrior of the Mahabharata, was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra (Lord Krishna's sister). The story begins when Abhimanyu was still in his mother’s womb, listening to Arjuna explaining the secrets of the Chakravyuha to her.

While Arjuna was explaining the intricacies of the Chakravyuha to Subhadra, she fell asleep halfway through. Noticing this, Arjuna decided not to disturb her and left the explanation incomplete. Unfortunately, this became a tragic twist of fate. Abhimanyu, who had absorbed only the part about entering the Chakravyuha while still in the womb, never learned how to exit it. This missing knowledge ultimately led to his death in the future when he got trapped in the deadly formation on the battlefield.

Abhimanyu was a hero who left this world at a young age, but not before leaving behind a legacy of valour. This legacy continues to inspire all youth to rise against injustice.

?Even after 5,000 years, his bravery stands tall, undiminished by time. The Mahabharata war, which lasted for 18 days, might have ended on the 13th day if the Kauravas hadn’t deceitfully attacked him, thinking they could easily defeat a young boy.

But those “Adharmis”? showed no mercy.

?They surrounded the 16-year-old Abhimanyu from all directions, attacking him relentlessly until he was gravely wounded and attained “Veergati”. When his bloodied body fell on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, it felt as though the earth trembled, and the atmosphere itself signaled impending doom.

The land of Kurukshetra, once golden, had turned red with blood. The disaster that followed was no myth; it was real.?

For Arjuna and the Pandavas, Abhimanyu’s death was as devastating as the end of the world.?

No father would ever wish to see his son’s death before his own, not even in a dream. For Arjuna, this was a shock that inspired him to seek the death of Jayadratha, the primary cause of Abhimanyu's death

On the 13th day of the war, Guru Drona had entered the battlefield determined to end it. His plan was to capture Yudhishthira and kill all? Pandava who came to rescue Yudhishthira. But Abhimanyu’s unexpected entry into the Chakravyuha disrupted these plans. Though his death was not originally part of the plan, Abhimanyu became trapped , and this unanticipated move shook even the Kaurava forces.

Even while wounded, Abhimanyu managed to slay several mighty warriors from the Kaurava side, including Duryodhana’s son. According to Drona's strategy, Susharma had already lured Arjuna far away from the battlefield, leaving Abhimanyu vulnerable. Yet, Abhimanyu's courage and sacrifice left an indelible mark on history.

Warriors like Abhimanyu may be rare, but even in small numbers, their sheer courage and strength have the power to shake the very foundations of the battlefield. Their bravery echoes through time, proving that it’s not the size of the army that matters, but the heart and valor of the warrior.