अथ कर्णस्य सचिवान् षट् शूरांश् चित्रयोधिनः ॥
साश्वसूतध्वजरथान् सौभद्रो निजघान ह ॥
अथेतरान् महेष्वासान् दशभिर् दशभिः शरैः ॥
प्रत्यविध्यद् असंभ्रान्तस् तद् अद्भुतम् इवाभवत् ॥
मागधस्य पुनः पुत्रं हत्वा षड्भिर् अजिह्मगैः ॥
साश्वं ससूतं तरुणम् अश्वकेतुम् अपातयत् ॥
atha karṇasya sacivān ṣaṭ śūrāṃś citrayodhinaḥ ||
sāśvasūtadhvajarathān saubhadro nijaghāna ha ||
athetarān maheṣvāsān daśabhir daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ ||
pratyavidhyad asaṃbhrāntas tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
māgadhasya punaḥ putraṃ hatvā ṣaḍbhir ajihmagaiḥ ||
sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ taruṇam aśvaketum apātayat ||
Then the son of Subhadra struck down six companions of Karna, warriors skilled in battle, together with their horses, charioteers, standards, and chariots. Then, unperturbed, he struck back at the remaining great archers with ten arrows each — that appeared as a marvel indeed. Then, having struck down the son of the king of the Magadhas with six straight-flying arrows, he cast down the youth Ashvaketu together with his horses and charioteer.
695000d23bce · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:30:04 PM UTC
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The youth strikes "unperturbed" (asaṃbhrānta) — the master's calm amid the whirlwind of battle, which turns the most arduous deed into a "marvel." He fells Karna's companions and the young Ashvaketu one after another, without losing his composure. It is telling that the tradition again and again emphasizes this unperturbed calm: true strength is never restless. The verse teaches that the summit of mastery is calm, and in the very center of the carnage the master keeps a clear mind; that restlessness is a sign of weakness, while calm is a sign of strength; and that Abhimanyu, striking down the fiercest foes "unperturbed," reveals that composure of spirit which makes his deeds a "marvel" — for it is not fury but calm perfection that achieves the impossible.