Abhimanyu (अभिमन्युः)

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Abhimanyu (Samskrit: अभिमन्युः) was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra in the epic of Mahabharata.

Ancestry of Abhimanyu

वंशावली ॥ Ancestry

The Puranic encyclopaedia traces the ancestry of Abhimanyu right up to Lord Brahma.

पूर्वजन्म ॥ Previous Birth

According to the Adi Parva (Adhyaya 67) of the Mahabharata, the mighty Varchas, son of Soma (Chandra), became Abhimanyu of wonderful deeds, the son of Arjuna.

यस्तु वर्चा इति ख्यातः सोमपुत्रः प्रतापवान् ॥११२॥ सोऽभिमन्युर्बृहत्कीर्तिरर्जुनस्य सुतोऽभवत् ।

yastu varcā iti khyātaḥ somaputraḥ pratāpavān ॥112॥ so'bhimanyurbr̥hatkīrtirarjunasya suto'bhavat ।

It is said that, once, a conference took place amongst the Devas about their incarnation in the world for the destruction of the wicked people. At that time, Lord Soma told the Devas,

नाहं दद्यां प्रियं पुत्रं मम प्राणैर्गरीयसम् । समयः क्रियतामेष न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम् ॥११४॥

सुरकार्यं हि नः कार्यमसुराणां क्षितौ वधः । तत्र यास्यत्ययं वर्चा न च स्थास्यति वै चिरम् ॥११५॥

ऐन्द्रिर्नरस्तु भविता यस्य नारायणः सखा । सोर्जुनेत्यभिविख्यातः पाण्डोः पुत्रः प्रतापवान् ॥११६॥

तस्यायं भविता पुत्रो बालो भुवि महारथः । ततः षोडश वर्षाणि स्थास्यत्यमरसत्तमाः ॥११७॥

अस्य षोडशवर्षस्य स सङ्ग्रामो भविष्यति । यत्रांशा वः करिष्यन्ति कर्म वीरनिषूदनम् ॥११८॥

नरनारायणाभ्यां तु स सङ्ग्रामो विनाकृतः । चक्रव्यूहं समास्थाय योधयिष्यन्ति वः सुराः ॥११९॥

विमुखाञ्छात्रवान्सर्वान्कारयिष्यति मे सुतः । बालः प्रविश्य च व्यूहमभेद्यं विचरिष्यति ॥१२०॥

महारथानां वीराणां कदनं च करिष्यति । सर्वेषामेव शत्रूणां चतुर्थांशं नयिष्यति ॥१२१॥

दिनार्धेन महाबाहुः प्रेतराजपुरं प्रति । ततो महारथैर्वीरैः समेत्य बहुशो रणे ॥१२२॥

दिनक्षये महाबाहुर्मया भूयः समेष्यति । एकं वंशकरं पुत्रं वीरं वै जनयिष्यति ॥१२३॥

प्रनष्टं भारतं वंशं स भूयो धारयिष्यति । एतत्सोमवचः श्रुत्वा तथास्त्विति दिवौकसः ॥१२४॥

nāhaṁ dadyāṁ priyaṁ putraṁ mama prāṇairgarīyasam । samayaḥ kriyatāmeṣa na śakyamativartitum ॥114॥

surakāryaṁ hi naḥ kāryamasurāṇāṁ kṣitau vadhaḥ । tatra yāsyatyayaṁ varcā na ca sthāsyati vai ciram ॥115॥

aindrirnarastu bhavitā yasya nārāyaṇaḥ sakhā । sorjunetyabhivikhyātaḥ pāṇḍoḥ putraḥ pratāpavān ॥116॥

tasyāyaṁ bhavitā putro bālo bhuvi mahārathaḥ । tataḥ ṣoḍaśa varṣāṇi sthāsyatyamarasattamāḥ ॥117॥

asya ṣoḍaśavarṣasya sa saṅgrāmo bhaviṣyati । yatrāṁśā vaḥ kariṣyanti karma vīraniṣūdanam ॥118॥

naranārāyaṇābhyāṁ tu sa saṅgrāmo vinākr̥taḥ । cakravyūhaṁ samāsthāya yodhayiṣyanti vaḥ surāḥ ॥119॥

vimukhāñchātravānsarvānkārayiṣyati me sutaḥ । bālaḥ praviśya ca vyūhamabhedyaṁ vicariṣyati ॥120॥

mahārathānāṁ vīrāṇāṁ kadanaṁ ca kariṣyati । sarveṣāmeva śatrūṇāṁ caturthāṁśaṁ nayiṣyati ॥121॥

dinārdhena mahābāhuḥ pretarājapuraṁ prati । tato mahārathairvīraiḥ sametya bahuśo raṇe ॥122॥

dinakṣaye mahābāhurmayā bhūyaḥ sameṣyati । ekaṁ vaṁśakaraṁ putraṁ vīraṁ vai janayiṣyati ॥123॥

pranaṣṭaṁ bhārataṁ vaṁśaṁ sa bhūyo dhārayiṣyati । etatsomavacaḥ śrutvā tathāstviti divaukasaḥ ॥124॥

Meaning: I cannot part for long with my son who is dearer to me than life itself. So, let a time period for his stay on Earth be decided. The destruction of the Asuras on earth is the work of the celestials, and, therefore, it is a work befitting us. Let Varchas go there for the accomplishment of this task, but let him not stay there for long. Nara, whose companion is Narayana, will be born as Indra's son and indeed, will be known as Arjuna, the mighty son of Pandu. Varchas shall be his son and shall be known as Maharathi (great warrior) right from his boyhood. And let him stay on earth for sixteen years. In his sixteenth year, the battle (of Mahabharata) shall take place in which all those born of your portions shall achieve the destruction of mighty warriors. But a certain encounter shall take place without both Nara (Arjuna) and Narayana (Krishna) taking any part in it. At that time, the enemies shall fight, having formed the Chakravyuha. In that fight, my son shall compel all foes to retreat before him. Even though a boy, he will penetrate the impenetrable array and range within it fearlessly. He will destroy great warriors and send one fourth part of the enemy force, in course of half a day, unto the regions of Yama. Then, when numerous warriors charge towards him, my son of mighty arms, facing them all will come back to me by the close of the day. And he shall beget one valorous son, who shall continue the almost extinct Bharata race.

The Devas agreed to this condition and thus, was born Chandra’s son Varchas as Abhimanyu.

जन्म वर्णनं च॥ Birth and Description

The birth of Abhimanyu is mentioned in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata (Adhyaya 220 - Haranaharanaparva | हरणाहरणपर्व).

• Describing Abhimanyu it is said,

दीर्घबाहुं महोरस्कं वृषभाक्षमरिन्दमम्। सुभद्रा सुषुवे वीरमभिमन्युं नरर्षभम् ॥६६॥

सर्वसंहननोपेतं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्। दुर्धर्षमृषभस्कन्धं व्यात्ताननमिवोरगम् ॥७५॥

सिंहदर्पं महेष्वासं मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमम्। मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननम् ॥७६॥

कृष्णस्य सदृशं शौर्ये वीर्ये रूपे तथाऽऽकृतौ। ७७ |

dīrghabāhuṁ mahoraskaṁ vr̥ṣabhākṣamarindamam। subhadrā suṣuve vīramabhimanyuṁ nararṣabham ॥66॥

sarvasaṁhananopetaṁ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam। durdharṣamr̥ṣabhaskandhaṁ vyāttānanamivoragam ॥75॥

siṁhadarpaṁ maheṣvāsaṁ mattamātaṅgavikramam। meghadundubhinirghoṣaṁ pūrṇacandranibhānanam ॥76॥

kr̥ṣṇasya sadr̥śaṁ śaurye vīrye rūpe tathā''kr̥tau। |77|

Meaning: Subhadra gave birth to the valorous and great Abhimanyu who had long arms, broad chest, and eyes as large as those of a bull; he was indeed an oppressor of foes. Abhimanyu possessed the power of slaying every foe. He was endowed with every auspicious mark, was invisible in battle with broad-shoulders like the bull and a broad face like the hood of the snake. Wielding a large bow, he was proud like a lion and his prowess was like that of an elephant in rut. He was possessed of a face handsome as the full moon and of a voice deep as the sound of the drum or the clouds. And he was equal to Krishna in bravery, energy, beauty and features.

• The epic also beautifully explains why Abhimanyu was named so. It says,

अभीश्च मन्युमांश्चैव ततस्तमरिमर्दनम्। अभिमन्युरिति प्राहुरार्जुनिं पुरुषर्षभम् ॥ ६७ ॥

abhīśca manyumāṁścaiva tatastamarimardanam। abhimanyuriti prāhurārjuniṁ puruṣarṣabham ॥ 67 ॥

Meaning: The son of Arjuna, bull among men, was called Abhimanyu because he was fearless and wrathful (who fought with fervor).

• In fact, the birth of Abhimanyu was generously celebrated in the kingdom. Yudhishthira, the powerful son of Kunti, gave away ten thousand cows and coins of gold to Brahmanas.

यस्मिञ्जाते महातेजाः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अयुतं गा द्विजातिभ्यः प्रादान्निष्कांश्च भारत ॥ ६९ ॥

yasmiñjāte mahātejāḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। ayutaṁ gā dvijātibhyaḥ prādānniṣkāṁśca bhārata ॥ 69 ॥

• The usual rites performed at the birth of a child and during its infancy was performed by Lord Sri Krishna himself for Abhimanyu.

जन्मप्रभृति कृष्णश्च चक्रे तस्य क्रियाः शुभाः । ७१ । janmaprabhr̥ti kr̥ṣṇaśca cakre tasya kriyāḥ śubhāḥ । 71 ।

युद्धशिक्षणम् ॥ Training in Warfare

Abhimanyu received his training in warfare from his father Arjuna. Later, he went with his mother Subhadra to Dvaraka and lived for sometime with his uncle Sri Krishna. There, he is said to have received training from Pradyumna (son of Krishna).

चतुष्पादं दशविधं धनुर्वेदमरिन्दमः। अर्जुनाद्वेद वेदज्ञः सकलं दिव्यमानुषम्।।

That grinder of foes soon became conversant with the Vedas and acquired from his father the science of weapon both celestial and human, consisting of four branches and ten divisions.

विज्ञानेष्वपि चास्त्राणां सौष्ठवे च महाबलः। क्रियास्वपि च सर्वासु विशेषानभ्यशिक्षयत्।।

Endued with great strength, the child also acquired the knowledge of counteracting the weapons hurled at him by others, and great lightness of hand and fleetness of motion forward and backward and transverse and wheeling.

आगमे च प्रयोगे च चक्रे तुल्यमिवात्मना। तुतोष पुत्रं सौभद्रं प्रेक्षमाणो धनञ्जयः।।

Abhimanyu became like unto his father in knowledge of the scriptures and rites of religion. And Dhananjaya, beholding his son, became filled with joy.

विवाहः ॥ Marriage

After the incognito life of the Pandavas, Abhimanyu married Uttara, the daughter of the King of Virata.

युद्धकौशलम् ॥ Combat skill

War broke out between Kauravas and Pandavas. On the first day itself Abhimanyu entered into a duel with Brhatbala (King of Kosala). In the terrible conflict with Bhishma, Abhimanyu broke Bhishma's flagstaff. After that he assisted his father Arjuna in the fight against Bhishma. Verses 8-13 of Chapter 55 of Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata describe Abhimanyu's fight with Lakshmana in the second day's battle. Then he took his place in the Ardha Chandra Vyuha formed by Arjuna. He fought fiercely with the Gandharas. He attacked Shalya and killed Jayatsena (King of Magadha) along with his elephant. We find Abhimanyu assisting Bhimasena in Mahabharata Bhishma Parva Chapters 63, 64, 69 and 94. After that abhimanyu defeated Lakshmana in battle. Then he defeated Vikarna, Chitrasena and others also. Later, he took his position in the Shrngataka Vyuha created by Dhrshtadyumna. He started fighting with Bhagadatta. He defeated Ambastha and Alambusha. Next he fought a duel with Sudishna. After that, he encountered Duryodhana, Brhatbala and others. Mahabharata Drona Parva, Chapter 10, Verses 47-52 are a description of Abhimanyu's heroism by Dhrtarashtra. He snatched Paurava's weapon and threw it on the ground. Next he fought with Jayadratha and Shalya. Then he was caught in the Chakravyuha of the enemies. There he inflicted great losses upon the enemy forces. Shalya was stunned and his brother was killed by Abhimanyu. Mahabharata Drona Parva Chapter 38 Verses 23 and 24 describe the flight of the Kauravas in fear. At that stage, even Dronacharya praised Abhimanyu's valour. Dushshasana fainted during his fight with Abhimanyu. Karna was defeated. Vrshasena, Satyashravas and Shalya's son Rugmaratha were slain. Duryodhana fled. Lakshmana was killed. Vrndaraka, Ashvatthama, Karna and others were amazed by this terrible valour of Abhimanyu. Six ministers of Karna were slain. Next Ashvaketu (son of the King of Magadha) was killed. King Bhoja was also killed. Shalya was again defeated. Shatrunjaya, Chandraketu, Meghavega, Suvarcas, Suryabhasa, who were all kings were beheaded by Abhimanyu. Shakuni was wounded by Abhimanyu's arrow. Kalakeya (son of Subala) was slain. Mahabharata Drona Parva Chapter 40 Verses 13 and 14 say that at this stage, Prince Dushshasana beat Abhimanyu to death with his mace.