Abhimanyu --- By Ashwin

Hi all

Everybody knows abt abhimanyu and abt his bravery.here I have put down in
simple words what happened on the 12th day of mahabharata war .enjoy reading
it.

It is the 12th day of the mahabharata war.that day the senapati of kaurava's
the supreme guru Dronacharya has made a pratigna that he will kill one
pandava that day.who knew that it was young abhimanyu who will write his
name in golden letters and will be taken as an example for his valor.

Here in kauravas side acharya Drona has setup chakravyooha or padmavyooha to
fulfill his word.but he has only 1 worry.to break chakravyooha only 3
persons know that. One the almighty krishna himself ,other is his dearest
arjuna and the another person is pradyumna the son of krishna.what happens
if arjuna would turn out to break the chakravyooha.?? Realising his worries
the samshaptakas approach him and tell him that they would challenge arjuna
and would drag him elsewhere.with arjuna krishna will be there and acharya
with this situation can fulfill his desire..the stage is setup and
samshaptakas challenge arjuna and engage him fighting away from
chakravyooha..so the stage is set and one or the other from the pandavas
side should be sacrificed?? And who is that hero?? We will see it shortly..


And at the pandavas camp yudhistira is pacing up and down in a worried
fashion. His brother arjuna is away fighting with samshaptakas and there is
no one to face acharyas challenge.all the warriors on pandavas side have
assembled near yudhistira and are thinking about the solution.at this time
the youngest in their camp the abhimanyu(one who commands respect for his
talent) approaches his uncle.he addresses udhistira and says "oh uncle there
is no need to worry.I am the son of arjuna the most revered warrior. Uncle
krishna has taught me how to enter chakravyuha when I was still in my
mother's womb.just give me permission to enter chakravyooha and u will see
that arjuna's son should not be taken for ease and I will teach kauravas
what real fight is??' yudhistira is half minded whether to permit him or
not.seeing this abhimanyu says "oh uncle I think u are still doubtful abt my
skill. U can do onething.i will break chakravyooha and enter inside
that.yourself uncle bhima and others just follow me inside.then I think
there is no need to worry".. with these words yudhistira permits abhimanyu
to enter chakravyooha with the assumption that they will follow and will
protect him if there is a need.but who knows what fate has written for that
young boy????

At the entrance of chakravyooha is present saindhava or jayadratha husband
of duryodhana's sister.he has a boon from lord shiva that no one of the
pandavas except arjuna can defeat him on the 12th day of the war..

And finally the war starts and abhimanyu who is the lead just pierces the
chakravyooha as if it is a child's play and enter's inside.behind him only
the vyooha closes and jayadratha comes between the pandavas and
abhimanyu..much against their effort the pandavas are not able to face
jayadratha that day and they retreat.abhimanyu has entered chakravyooha.he
has forgotten what is happening behind him..he is concentrated fully on the
war.no words can account for the legerdemain of abhimanyu.he is swift like a
wind.he is spotted once here and the next moment he is elsewhere..everyone
is frightened that arjuna has really returned.he is spreading panic among
kauravas.seeing this duryodhana is furious and challenges abhimanyu himself.
A fierce war follows and hit by abhimanyu's arrows duryodhana tottered and
is taken somewhere else.a wave of terror is spreading on kauravas
side..greats warriors like shalya karna and others try to stop abhimanyu but
in vain. Seeing his bravery acharya praises abhimanyu with his heart..is
there no one to stop abhimanyu?? What happened to the great warriors like
karna ashwathaama and others..are they not brave enough to confront with
this lad?? What happened to their experience..thinking this way duryodhana
consults acharya abt the way to stop abhimanyu.acharya says that it is
impossible to stop abhimanyu from the front.if someone breaks the thread of
the bow then they can attack abhimanyu.being a great warrior karna agrees to
do this.and when abhimanyu is engaged fighting with someone else karna cuts
the thread of abhimanyu's bow.alas wht is happening?? This is the level of
bravery that is exhibited by some of the great warroirs..but still can
anyone subdue a storm?? impossible.......a lion is always a lion and it will
never run away form the warfield....but what if luck also turns back on such
a brave one?? No wonder he will prefer meeting an end fighting rather than
running away....

Everyone is witnessing this unfair act that is being practiced by some of
the great warriors..but afterall a storm is a storm.abhimanyu picks up his
sword and shield and starts hitting at the kauravas.his horses are killed
and his chariot is gone.he is standing on the ground with everyone
surrounding him in their chariots.everyone is raining arrows towards him.but
he is not afraid..he is fighting with a sword alone against everyone.and
again the heinous act of attacking from the back is practised.someone cuts
abimanyu's sword..is he afraid now?? Never ..from his birth he is unaware of
that word..he then picks up the mace..then he atttacks
dusshasana.dusshasana's chariot is broken and he takes to his
heels..everyone is raining arrows on abhimanyu..then dushasana's son also
picks up mace and enters into a one to one fight with abhimanyu.but us this
the real bravery..abhimanyu is tired and is in bad condition..taking
oppurtunity dusshasana's son pounds on abhimanyu's head with his
mace..Unable to bear the blow the great young warrior falls down.the soul
that was there and which commanded respect for it's bravery leaves
abhimanyu's body.blood spilled all around abhimanyu's body becomes covered
with mud and dust..the hero is gone.but his fame ?? it will be there for
centuries and his name will be a synonym for bravery as long as the world
exists..and this paved for a greater action on the next day(13th day) of
mahabharata war..


With Regards
Ashwin