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.

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).

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.