Abhimanyu - III

 

The Kurukshetra :
 

Now, let's come to the most important part of Abhimanyu's life, the War. Abhimanyu was sixteen years old when he fought in the Mahābhārata war. The warriors he fought were far more experienced and seasoned than him and he exhibited courage and valor far greater than what his age, experience and training demanded. Abhimanyu’s fame starting spreading far and wide from the first day of the war when he destroyed the banner and checked the advances of the unstoppable Bhishma. Abhimanyu's short but eventful life gains the most prominence on the thirteenth day of the war when he is made to enter the powerful 'Chakravyuha' battle formation of the Kaurava army. His sacrificial death in the war definitely brought in a different turn to the events.
 

His most important contribution was the fact that he stood between victory and defeat of Pandavas in the war on the 13th day. Without his presence, Yudhisthira would have been captured by the Kaurava forces and the war would be lost.

The Kurukshetra - Contd :
 

It is on the thirteenth day of the war that we see his valour and skill at their most dazzling. Drona arrays his army into a chakravyuha on another side, a formation almost impossible to break into. Finding no solution, to break the Chakravyuha, Yudhishthira approaches Abhimanyu and tells him that it is now on him to break into Drona’s chakravyuha and save the Pandava army. “Son Abhimanyu,” adds Yudhishthira, “the entire army of your fathers and uncles is begging you for this and you must do it. There is none other than you present here who can do that.”
 

Abhimanyu instantly agrees to do so. There is nothing he desires more than glory in battle. However, he tells Yudhishthira, “Father has taught me to enter the chakravyuha. But in case of a danger, I cannot come out of it.” He has learnt to break into the vyuha, but not to come out of it. Yudhishthira tells that they would follow him into the chakravyuha through the break he makes. Abhimanyu now accepts the challenge, saying he, in a fury, shall “enter the vyuha exactly as a moth flings itself into burning fire”.
 

This post on Kurukshetra will be contd...

- Abhimanyu