Arjuna by Anuja Chandramouli

Author:Anuja Chandramouli [Chandramouli, Anuja]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789381576397
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd

14

Death Of A Hero

Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, was believed to be an incarnation of the Moon God, Soma. The lad had inherited the best characteristics of the Pandavas and his maternal uncle Krishna, and was everybody’s favourite. Everyone, including step-mother Draupadi, adored him for his exemplary qualities. He was a devoted adherent of dharma like Yudhishthira, robust like Bheema, gallant and skilful like his father, handsome, gentle, smart, and witty like Nakula and Sahadeva, and as cheerful and savvy as Krishna.

Although the noble youth lived for only sixteen years, his heroic feats and tragic death made him immortal. He was like a shooting star that blazed across the heavens, bathing all in its brilliance, and then fading all too soon. In the battle of Kurukshetra, he proved his mettle and showed the world that he was truly his great father’s son.

When the Pandavas were sent into exile following Yudhishthira’s humiliating loss in the game of dice engineered by Shakuni, Krishna took Subhadra and Abhimanyu away with him. Though he was well looked after by his mother and uncle, the little boy missed his father deeply. Subhadra told him the ugly story and instilled in him a steely determination to win back for his father everything he had lost to the greed and guile of wicked men. He would confide in his uncle Krishna and promise in his childlike lisp that he would win back the Kingdom for his father and uncles. Krishna would smile and encourage him, knowing well what was written in his destiny.

The young Prince was a precocious child and quickly mastered the Vedas and martial arts – to the pride of his father and uncles. He grew up proud and strong and everyone agreed that he equalled his legendary father in terms of martial prowess. Arjuna arranged his marriage to Princess Uttara, daughter of King Virata, shortly before the great war. Their posthumous son, Parikshit, would be the perpetuator of the noble lineage.

Abhimanyu joined his father on the battlefield of Kurukshetra and distinguished himself from day one. He was but a mere stripling but he put hardened veterans to shame with his dazzling fighting skills. Few people could withstand his might and Bhishma’s eyes were laden with tears when he witnessed the young hero fight as if he were Arjuna himself. The Pandavas came to depend heavily on him and Abhimanyu rose to the challenge. He proved equal to every daunting task they threw his way, until a particularly heavy burden proved too much even for someone as valiant as he.

When Bhishma fell, Drona was given command over the Kaurava forces. Pleased with Duryodhana for the faith he had in him, the Acharya granted him a boon, and Duryodhana asked him to capture Yudhishthira alive in order to finish the war. Drona mistakenly thought that the Kuru Prince had finally come to his senses and wished to spare the life of his noble cousin, but was immeasurably saddened to discover that Duryodhana merely intended to challenge his rival for the throne through another game of dice and so send him back into exile.

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