Abhimanyu - Brave Youth

This is part of my ongoing series on the Mahabharat, an epic poem of ancient India. For links to all previous Mahabharat posts go here. Or you can simply click on the Mahabharat page link above.


I've been reluctant to post this series even though I wrote it two weeks ago. I didn't know if I should. I'm posting it now because I think I must. I spent so much emotional energy writing it that if I didn't share it with you it wouldn't be fair.

So brace yourself.

The entire story of the Mahabharat focuses on one family, the Kurus, and the generations within that family. From Shantanu to Bhishma to Pandu to Yudhistira and Arjuna, we have seen four generations. Abhimanyu is the fifth generation.

This is his story:


Arjuna fell in love with Subhadra, Krishna's sister, and married her. Krishna was delighted to have his best friend and his sister united. When Subhadra became pregnant she went home to Dwarika to have her first child at her parent's house as was custom.

Krishna was happy to have his beloved sister home again. The pregnancy made her sleepy and restless so Krishna spent a lot of time with her, telling her stories to keep her entertained.

One day when Subhadra was heavily pregnant, tired and missing Arjuna, Krishna wanted to distract her so he began to tell her about military tactics. He explained that one of the most complex military strategies was the chakravyu, a massive sweeping wheel formation that contained seven layers of armies in constant motion. This was a tactic that very few people understood and was in fact a military secret.

The only warriors in the land who were masters of the chakravyu were Krishna himself, Arjuna, Guru Drona and Grandsire Bhishma.

Krishna, to keep Subhadra's mind diverted, proceeded to tell her this most dangerous secret. He explained how the seven layers of the chakra were choreographed and how to breach those layers to penetrate the enemy's defenses. Krishna was about to explain how to retreat from those same layers and break out of the chakravyu when he noticed that his sister had fallen asleep.

He covered Subhadra with the silk sheet and left quietly.

Her son Abhimanyu was born soon after to much rejoicing of the family.

It was only a few years later that the Pandavas played that dice match in which the Kauravas used loaded dice to cheat them. Because of those terrible events the Pandavas and Draupadi went into exile for thirteen years.

Krishna, much to the Pandavas relief, brought Subhadra to Dwarika along with Abhimanyu and Draupadi's small sons. He educated the boys, spending the most time with Abhimanyu who was the eldest.

Abhimanya was just like his father. Intelligent, handsome, loving, respectful. When Krishna began to instruct him in weaponry it was clear that the boy had Arjuna's natural aptitude. It was amazing to watch little Abhimanyu pick up a bow for the first time and shoot as if he's been doing it for years.

Abhimanyu was devoted to his uncle Krishna. To the boy, Krishna was father, friend, teacher, uncle, and playmate all in one. Abhimanyu was also enthralled by the stories Krishna told of Arjuna. Abhimanyu didn't remember his father much, he'd been so little when they'd last seen each other and he was now almost a teenager. The stories Krishna told of Arjuna made Abhimanyu feel as if he was close to his father.

When Abhimanyu's education proceeded to complex military strategies he asked Krishna a question he'd wanted to ask for a long time.

"Uncle, will you tell me the secret to retreating from the chakravyu?"

Krishna arched a perfect black brow. "I haven't told you the secret to breaching that formation but you want to know how to retreat from it?"

"Oh, I already know how to breach it."

"And how is that? Did your father tell you?"

Abhimanyu grinned. "No, you did."

"I?"

Abhimanyu nodded. "When I was in my mother's womb I heard you describing the chakravyu but you stopped because Mother fell asleep. I didn't hear how to get out of the formation."

Krishna stroked Abhimanyu's hair. "You remember what I said when you were in your mother's womb?"

"I remember everything you say, Uncle. I can't help it."

Krishna's fingers paused in Abhimanyu's hair and then he hugged the boy.

Abhimanyu hugged his uncle back, smelling the sweet aroma of sandalwood that was only Krishna. When they separated Abhimanyu looked up at Krishna again. "Uncle, I've always wondered how to get out of the chakravyu. Will you please tell me the rest of the secret?"

Krishna closed his eyes and when he opened them he seemed to Abhimanyu to be looking far away. "Son, you've spent more time with me than with your own father. He misses you."

Abhimanya was quiet, solemnly looking up at Krishna.

"He's sad about not seeing you grow up. He wishes it could be different. You know that, don't you, Abhimanyu?"

Abhimanyu nodded. He wished it could be different too. He wished...

"It's not right that I teach you everything and leave nothing for your father to tell you. When he returns you can ask him for the rest of the secret to the chakravyu."

"But Uncle - "

"I'm leaving it between you and your father." Then Krishna smiled.

Whenever Uncle Krishna smiled it was so glorious that it made Abhimanyu forget everything but the joy of seeing it. He basked in that glory and forgot about secrets.

It was when Abhimanyu was fifteen that the Pandavas finally sent word from exile. They were in the kingdom of Matsya and Arjuna had found a bride for Abhimanyu in Uttara, the young and lovely princess of Matsya. Preparations were made for the whole family to go to Matsya for the wedding, with Subhadra rushing around like a madwoman in her excitement to see her husband and have her son married.

Abhimanyu was excited and happy and nervous all at the same time. Not only was he getting married but he was going to see his father for the first time in years. He was going to see his uncles and his elder mother Draupadi. What would they think of him? Would they be proud? Would they think he was worthy of being Arjuna's son? Or would they be disappointed?

Thankfully they were not disappointed. They embraced him with joy and Yudhistira told Abhimanyu that his marriage to the princess of Matsya would be very important for the Kuru clan. Abhimanyu was important. Arjuna kept hugging him and telling Abhimanyu how proud he was. Draupadi told Abhimanyu of how for the past year she had been wishing for him to marry the lovely Uttara and that when Arjuna arranged it she had been so thrilled.

It also helped that Abhimanyu was fascinated with his bride. His father had been right that Uttara was perfect for him. He was so in love he could barely think of anything other than being with her.

There was no time to ask his father for the secret of the chakravyu.

When Abhimanyu heard that Krishna was going to Hastinapur to be the peace envoy of the Pandavas, he was certain that whatever the outcome was would be for the best. His uncle never did anything wrong. Whether it was war or peace, it would be right.

So when it came to war, Abhimanyu was not afraid. He left his pregnant bride and rode with his father and uncles to Kurukshetra.


The Mahabharat tells us that a child in the womb can hear what is going on around it and even understand what is happening around it, as Abhimanyu heard and understood Krishna. These days, modern science has proved that foetuses in the womb can recognise voices, hear music, and even express their like or dislike of something they hear. As the research goes on I'm sure we'll find out more mysterious things but it's a fascinating point for me that life in the womb is already so developed. It's one of God's miracles.

Another point is that even when we are so small, so insignificant, as just a foetus in the womb, God is with us, talking to us, teaching us. There is another instance of this occurring in the Mahabharat scripture but that's another series.


To be continued...

Go here to read the next part of this series.

Go here to read the previous Mahabharat post entitled Say Something Sweet.


EXTRA! EXTRA!

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