Human Thunderbolt: Abhimanyu

He was a boy, barely sixteen years old, yet his prowess made the Kauravas tremble in the Kurukshetra war. He was Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu was Krishna’s nephew, son of Subhadra and Arjuna. He became the sheet-anchor of the Pandavas. He was pitted against the mightiest in the Kauravas rank in the war. Mighty heroes among the Kauravas had to flee. The enemies that is the Kauravas had to kill Abhimanyu by unfair means.

There are several skills and secrets of war. Various formations of army like Makarvyuha and the Chakravyuha. The use of different types of missiles and weapons and the ways of crushing the enemy are the details of war Krishna was telling Subhadra when she was pregnant. Krishna came to Hastinapur to take his sister Subhadra to Dwarka. It was a long journey and Krishna told Subhadra the secrets of winning a war. Krishna explained how to break and enter Chakravyuha. At that time went to sleep. Again it was one of fate’s ploy. The child in Subhadra’s womb heard the story. He learnt how to break and enter Chakravyuha. But coming out of Chakravyuha wasn’t told by Krishna as at that time his sister was sleeping. A few days later Abhimanyu was born. The name means a person who always defends his honour. After a few months Krishna took his sister and nephew to Hastinapur. The boy grew up as everybody’s darling.

After completing twelve years of life in forest and one year of life in incognito, the Pandavas asked Duryodhana to give back their kingdom as per their agreement, Duryodhana refused to give even five villages. Hence the war between them became inevitable. The Kurukshetra war began and it was the fiercest war. It was the ninth day of war. Abhimanyu showered thousands of arrows on the enemies. The mighty Alambusa and Abhimanyu fought a terrible battle. Alambusa created darkness with his magical power. Abhimanyu swept off the darkness with his suryaastra. Alambusa ran away. On the eleventh day of the Kurukshetra Abhimanyu again shook the Kaurava army.

The kauravas were worried. Dronacharya arranged the Kaurava army in the pattern called Chakravyuha. To piece this vyuha and go inside and fight the enemy was very difficult. And it was equally difficult to come out of Chakravyuha. Only Krishna and Arjuna knew how to come out of the Chakravyuha. Abhimanyu knew only how to enter the Chakravyuha. The Pandava army was in distress. Hence Abhimanyu said ’I’ll get into Chakravyuha.’ His charioteer drove forward. Abhimanyu, like a lion fell on the brave men of Kauravas. Abhimanyu entered the Chakravyuha and fought vigorously. Karna and others encircled Abhimanyu and rained arrows on him from all sides. Abhimanyu’s bow was broken. Still Abhimanyu fought the enemy with his sword. The brave boy was standing on the ground. He was tired as he had fought all through the day and at that time Dushasana’s son hit Abhimanyu with his maize and Abhimanyu fell down.

The valorous Abhimanyu’s spirit still lives on.