Abhimanyu, the Hero

Any story/epic/written account will have its lessons for us. Different societies have different standards for their youth. They rely upon their kids to measure up to a list of qualities that they were once expected to fulfil. And these norms weren’t written in one single go, centuries of societies slowly added, removed and modified piece by piece into the belief system.

Whom are we talking about

Abhimanyu, is the son of Arjuna (one of the Pandavas of Kuru clan). He was born to Arjuna and Krishna’s sister Subhadra and married to Uttara, daughter of King Virata. Playing a very important role in the war of Pandavas against Kauravas in the epic Mahabharatha (as narrated by Veda Vyasa), he died in the battlefield inside the war formation Chakravyuh on the 13th day of the battle.

His story speaks of valor and duty. When viewed from a different standpoint, we can read an interpretation in the light of the new context.

Situation

When Abhimanyu was still inside the womb of Subhadra, Arjuna would explain the formation of Chakravyuh and how to enter it. If he learned it even before entering the world, why did his knowledge fail him at the juncture of victory?

It so happened that Subhadra would eagerly listen when Arjuna begins to narrate the concept of Vyuh formation but would fall asleep when he explains the exit strategy.

I cannot hear… mother… mother… please… please.. don’t go to sleep.

This incident tells a lot about what Abhimanyu would come to be. He was born under the shadow of war. By the time he stepped into the world, the Pandavas were in exile only to return for the great battle. It was only a matter of time before he faced his uncles in the field. His life was molded around this cause.

Ideals and Belief

His belief system is coloured to a large extent by what happened around him.

Excelling in all forms of war, he fits the accepted notion of a hero during the Vedic age. One might argue that he belongs to the cream of heroes of his generation. These anecdotes of perfect youth were not exaggerated but simply captured what was there in the wider society and presents an intensified representation.

When he is coerced into entering the Vyuha by Dharmaraja, he considers it an opportunity to rise to the occasion and to seek his identity. Yudhistra is very well aware of what he is entrusting to his nephew.

The Chakravyuh itself is a metaphor for different parts of one’s identity (self, identity in a family and identity in a society) interlocking with one another.

At the heart of his psyche (simply put, the human mind) lies an important friction, though very subtle. Abhimanyu as a person has many identities — the son of great Arjuna, Utthara’s husband, Subhadra’s son and a restorer of Dharma. As different parts of his mind fight with one another to discover who Abhimanyu is, the power of his place within the Pandava family replaces everything else.

This is very common for people when one identity towers above all other interests, they let it consume them in order to be at peace with themselves. The individual accepts the will of the community and makes it identical with his own.

The task at hand, i.e. to establish Dharma and a fair society is far more important that personal inclinations for a normal life. Abhimanyu reveals no desire for a life after the war. To make the best of out of the present is his ultimate goal. Thereby reducing the burden of conflict through renunciation (tendencies which are in contradiction to the rest of the psyche are given up) and making way for constructive work to happen.

There is no conflict here. Which is very much in contrast to our daily lives where we try to resolve conflicts within our psyche that identifies itself with too many groups and is unable to unify them.

His conquests in the war, his successful entry into the Chakravyuh and his readiness to fight to death even though his death is inevitable are all considered reflections of his inner triumph over fear and doubt- the very qualities of a hero.

Last Stand

Much to his enemies surprise, Abhimanyu has entered the Chakravyuh, a kid had broken an age-old war formation.

His position, the way he is by fate put into the Vyuh against warriors far more experienced in life and in skill is an image we are too familiar with — the image of many young adults who enter the world with no idea of how to navigate and to face those who spare no thought in bringing the weak down.

Before the battle began, both sides agree on certain rules. They decided that any warrior without a weapon will not be attacked.

As Abhimanyu enters the Chakravyuh, the Kauravas team up to attack him continuously even when he drops his weapon, in effect breaking the agreed code of conduct. And later this rulebreaking helps the Pandavas kill Drona and Karna.

They say his death provided Arjuna the stimulus to fight the Kauravas and their supporters which he previously lacked considering the fact that the enemy were his own cousins and his elders.

His death is almost a cruel indication of the end of innocence. Was Abhimanyu a mere instrument on the journey to victory? Was he a means to keep the Kuru clan alive ? ( Abhimanyu’s child Parakshit was the only surviving heir to Kuru’s throne)

These questions seem petty in the eyes of today’s generation who are struggling to identify themselves in a fast moving society that cares only for itself. But to the youth of that time, self-sacrifice or sacrifices made for a greater cause (in this case to establish a world based on Dharma) were of the highest honour that any warrior can be bestowed upon. We may not relate to all of these ideals. But it lives as a part of history, something that youth long long ago followed.

Originally published at https://artistinprogress.substack.com.