the slaughter of Abhimanyu,” the 73rd of the minor parvans
of Mhbhr.; cf. Abhimanyuvadha). § 593: The 13th
day: Broken by Arjuna, and Droṇa having failed to seize
Yudhiṣṭhira, the Kurus were regarded as defeated; they
heard all praising Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa. Next morning
Duryodhana blamed Droṇa for not having seized Yudhiṣṭhira;
Droṇa said that even D., As., G., Y., N., and Rā. cannot defeat
the force protected by Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa, save Mahādeva;
but to-day he would slay a mighty car-warrior. The
Saṃśaptakas challenged Arjuna and took him away to the
southern side of the field. Abhimanyu's slaughter by
Duḥśāsana's son is alluded to by Sañjaya. Dhṛtarāṣṭra
grieves. Sañjaya relates (VII, 33). Sañjaya praises Yudhi-
ṣṭhira, etc. (α). Droṇa had formed the great circular array
(cakravyūha): Lakṣmaṇa (the grandson of Dhṛtarāṣṭra) at
their head; Duryodhana, etc. (β) in the middle; at the head the
commander Droṇa, etc. (γ) (VII, 34). The Pāṇḍavas were
headed by Bhīmasena: Sātyaki, etc. (δ) & Droṇa, whom
the Pāñcālas and the Sṛñjayas could not approach. Yudhi-
ṣṭhira says that only Abhimanyu, etc. (ε), can break the
array of Droṇa, and orders Abhimanyu to do it; Bhīma, etc.
(ζ) followed him; praised by Yudhiṣṭhira, who says that the
protectors of Droṇa's host resemble S., R., M., V., or Agni, or
Āditya, Abhimanyu orders his charioteer Sumitra to urge
the steeds towards Droṇa's army (VII, 35). Abhimanyu
(with Sumitra), etc., & Droṇa, etc.; Abhimanyu breaks
that part of the Kuru army; many steeds of the Vanāyu,
etc. (η), breeds were deprived of their ornaments, and caused
delight to Rā., etc. (VII, 36). Duryodhana & Abhimanyu;
Droṇa, etc. (θ) & Abhimanyu rescuing Duryodhana; Duḥsaha,
etc. (ι), & Abhimanyu, who slew the heir of Aśmaka;
Karṇa, etc. (κ), & Abhimanyu, who slew Suṣeṇa, etc. (λ), and
defeated Śalya; Droṇa's troops fled; P., D., Cā., Si., etc.,
glorify Abhimanyu (VII, 37). Abhimanyu slays Śalya's
younger brother, whose followers fled. Abhimanyu, with
the weapons he has received from Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna,
defeats all the warriors that encounter him. Droṇa's army
fled (VII, 38). Abhimanyu & Droṇa, etc. (μ). Droṇa says
that Abhimanyu delights Yudhiṣṭhira, etc. (ν). Duryodhana
told Karṇa, etc. (ξ), to crush Abhimanyu, whom they attacked;
Duḥśāsana & Abhimanyu (VII, 39); Abhimanyu addresses
Duḥśāsana (mentioning the dice, etc.); Duḥśāsana is borne
away by his charioteer; the Pāṇḍavas, etc. (ο), uttered
leonine shouts, and attacked Droṇa's array. Karṇa (urged
by Duryodhana). & Abhimanyu (desirous of proceeding
towards Droṇa); when Karṇa is in great distress his younger
brother encounters Abhimanyu (VII, 40). Abhimanyu slays
Karṇa's younger brother; Karṇa flies; the Kaurava array
breaks, except the Sindhu-king (VII, 41). Yudhiṣṭhira,
etc. (π), endeavour to follow Abhimanyu. Jayadratha checks
them with celestial weapons. Dhṛtarāṣṭra enquires of
Sañjaya about the source of Jayadratha's energy; Sañjaya
narrates the boon obtained by Jayadratha from Śiva (VII, 42).
Jayadratha vanquishes all the Pāṇḍava leaders with his steeds
of the Sindhu-breed: Sātyaki, etc. (ρ); Bhīma mounts the
car of Sātyaki; the path made by Abhimanyu is closed up;
notwithstanding the Matsyas, etc. (σ); they are all checked
by Jayadratha (VII, 43). Abhimanyu vanquished Vṛṣasena,
who was borne away from the battle, and slew Vasāliya and
many others (VII, 44). Abhimanyu seized Satyaśravas and
routed the Kurus; Rukmaratha (the son of Śalya) & Abhi-
manyu, who slew him and his friends (100 princes) with the
Gāndharva-weapon (b), though they were assisted by Duryo-
dhana, who was filled with fear and fled (VII, 45). Droṇa,
etc. (τ), & Abhimanyu, who beats them back-except
Lakṣmaṇa (who is followed by Duryodhana), who is slain.
Duryodhana urged the troops to slay Abhimanyu; Droṇa, etc.
(υ), encompassed Abhimanyu, who seeks Jayadratha; Krātha's
son was slain, the others fled (VII, 46). Droṇa, etc. (ϕ), &
Abhimanyu + Yudhiṣṭhira supporting Jayadratha; Karṇa
has one ear cut off; Abhimanyu slew Vṛndāraka and Bṛhadbala
(VII, 47); Abhimanyu once more pierced Karṇa in the ear,
and slew the son of the Magadha-king, and Aśvaketu, and
the Bhoja prince of Mārttikāvata (bearing the device of an
elephant); the son of Duḥśāsana & Abhimanyu; Aśvatthāman
& do.; Abhimanyu & Śalya, who mounts another car;
Abhimanyu slew Śatruñjaya, etc. (χ); Abhimanyu & Śakuni,
who tells Duryodhana to take counsel with Droṇa and Kṛpa,
etc., about the means of slaying Abhimanyu; Karṇa asks
Droṇa about the means of slaying Abhimanyu; Droṇa, saying
that he is gratified by Abhimanyu's prowess, tells Karṇa, who
is very afflicted with arrows, to cut off his bow, etc. Karṇa
then cut off Abhimanyu's bow, Kṛtavarman slew his steeds,
and Kṛpa slew his two Pārṣṇi charioteers; Abhimanyu, then
attacked by six car-warriors, fights with the sword, which is
cut off by Droṇa, while Karṇa cut off his shield (VII, 48);
then Abhimanyu fought with a wheel; then with a mace;
Abhimanyu & Aśvatthāman; Abhimanyu slew (? apothayat)
Subala's son Kālikeya, and slew 77 Gāndhāra followers of his,
and 10 Brahma-Vasātīyas (punar Brahma-Vasātīyān, C.; B.
has punaś caiva Vasātīyān), 7 Kaikayas (Kaikayānāṃ, C.;
B. has Kekayānām), and 10 elephants; Abhimanyu &
Duḥśāsana's son, who slays Abhimanyu. Invisible creatures
censure the cowardly act of the Kurus, headed by Droṇa and
Karṇa. The Pāṇḍava divisions fly, but are rallied by
Yudhiṣṭhira (VII, 49). In the evening the Kurus withdrew
to their encampment. Rā. and Pś., etc., on the field of battle
(VII, 50). Yudhiṣṭhira laments on the fall of Abhimanyu
(VII, 51).—§ 594: Vyāsa comes and consoles him (“death
takes all: D., Dā., G., without exception”), relating to him
the ancient story of what Nārada had said in days of old to
Akampana (q.v.). “This story is purifying, etc.; cast off thy
grief; Abhimanyu has attained to heaven; sprung from Soma,
he has disappeared in the lunar essence, cleansed from all his
impurities” (VII, 54).—§ 595: Vyāsa recites to Yudhi-
ṣṭhira the story of Sṛñjaya (q.v.), to whom Nārada told
Ṣoḍaśarājika (VII, 55—70). Vyāsa says that Abhimanyu has
attained to that eternal goal which is attained by Yogins, and
those that are living in heaven never prefer this world to
heaven; “it is the living that stand in need of our grief, and
not those who have attained to heaven; his sins increase for
whom the living grieve.” Then Vyāsa disappeared, and
Yudhiṣṭhira became free from grief; but—“what shall we
say to Arjuna?” (VII, 71).