Abhimanyu Quotes in Sanskrit With Meaning: Chakravyuh Shlokas for Bio and Status
Abhimanyu was still a boy — the Mahabharata keeps calling him बाल, “the boy” — when he drove his chariot into the chakravyuh — the wheel formation no one else on the Pandava side could break while Arjuna was away. He knew how to get in. He did not know how to get out. He went anyway. Here are the Abhimanyu shlokas people want for an Instagram bio, a WhatsApp status or a tattoo — his own words before he went in, and the verses of his last fight — each one complete in Sanskrit, with how to read it and its meaning in Hindi and English.
Every shloka comes with its real place in the Mahabharata and who speaks it. Some of the most shared “Abhimanyu quotes” — including the famous story that he learned the chakravyuh in his mother's womb — are not in the critical text; we've marked those near the end.
Abhimanyu Sanskrit shlokas with meaning
All verses are from the Drona Parva of the Mahabharata, in the critical edition of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. Most of the story is told by Sanjaya to the blind king Dhritarashtra, so “your army” means the Kaurava army. Each card is a whole shloka — use all of it, or the line that speaks to you.
ततोऽभिमन्युः प्रहसन्सारथिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।
सारथे को न्वयं द्रोणः समग्रं क्षत्रमेव वा ॥
ऐरावतगतं शक्रं सहामरगणैरहम् ।
योधयेयं रणमुखे न मे क्षत्रेऽद्य विस्मयः ।
न ममैतद्द्विषत्सैन्यं कलामर्हति षोडशीम् ॥
सारथे को न्वयं द्रोणः समग्रं क्षत्रमेव वा ॥
ऐरावतगतं शक्रं सहामरगणैरहम् ।
योधयेयं रणमुखे न मे क्षत्रेऽद्य विस्मयः ।
न ममैतद्द्विषत्सैन्यं कलामर्हति षोडशीम् ॥
tato 'bhimanyuḥ prahasan sārathiṃ vākyam abravīt
sārathe ko nv ayaṃ droṇaḥ samagraṃ kṣatram eva vā
airāvatagataṃ śakraṃ sahāmaragaṇair aham
yodhayeyaṃ raṇamukhe na me kṣatre 'dya vismayaḥ
na mamaitad dviṣatsainyaṃ kalām arhati ṣoḍaśīm
sārathe ko nv ayaṃ droṇaḥ samagraṃ kṣatram eva vā
airāvatagataṃ śakraṃ sahāmaragaṇair aham
yodhayeyaṃ raṇamukhe na me kṣatre 'dya vismayaḥ
na mamaitad dviṣatsainyaṃ kalām arhati ṣoḍaśīm
“Then Abhimanyu laughed and said to his charioteer: “Charioteer, who is this Drona — or the whole warrior race, for that matter? I would fight Indra himself on Airavata, with all the gods around him, at the head of the battle. No warrior amazes me today. This enemy army is not worth a sixteenth part of me.””
तब अभिमन्यु ने हँसकर सारथी से कहा — “सारथी, यह द्रोण कौन है, या पूरा क्षत्रिय-समाज ही क्या है? मैं तो ऐरावत पर बैठे इन्द्र से भी, सारे देवताओं के साथ, युद्ध के मुहाने पर लड़ सकता हूँ। आज कोई क्षत्रिय मुझे चकित नहीं करता। शत्रु की यह सेना मेरी सोलहवीं कला के बराबर भी नहीं।”
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.35.5–6 · Abhimanyu to his charioteer, before the chakravyuh
अहमेतत्प्रवेक्ष्यामि द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम् ।
पतंग इव संक्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥
पतंग इव संक्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥
aham etat pravekṣyāmi droṇānīkaṃ durāsadam
pataṃga iva saṃkruddho jvalitaṃ jātavedasam
pataṃga iva saṃkruddho jvalitaṃ jātavedasam
“I will enter this army of Drona that no one can approach — in fury, like a moth flying into a blazing fire.”
मैं द्रोण की इस अजेय सेना में प्रवेश करूँगा — क्रोध में भरकर, जैसे पतंगा धधकती आग में कूद पड़ता है।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.34.24 · Abhimanyu to Yudhishthira and Bhima
शिशुनैकेन संग्रामे काल्यमानानि संघशः ।
अद्य द्रक्ष्यन्ति भूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया ॥
अद्य द्रक्ष्यन्ति भूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया ॥
śiśunaikena saṃgrāme kālyamānāni saṃghaśaḥ
adya drakṣyanti bhūtāni dviṣatsainyāni vai mayā
adya drakṣyanti bhūtāni dviṣatsainyāni vai mayā
“Today every creature will watch the enemy's armies driven across the battlefield in herds — by one boy. By me.”
आज सब प्राणी देखेंगे कि युद्ध में एक अकेला बालक — मैं — शत्रु की सेनाओं को झुंड के झुंड खदेड़ रहा है।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.34.26 · Abhimanyu, before going in
अपि विश्वजितं विष्णुं मातुलं प्राप्य सूतज ।
पितरं चार्जुनं संख्ये न भीर्मामुपयास्यति ॥
पितरं चार्जुनं संख्ये न भीर्मामुपयास्यति ॥
api viśvajitaṃ viṣṇuṃ mātulaṃ prāpya sūtaja
pitaraṃ cārjunaṃ saṃkhye na bhīr mām upayāsyati
pitaraṃ cārjunaṃ saṃkhye na bhīr mām upayāsyati
“Even if I met Vishnu, conqueror of the world, my own uncle — or my father Arjuna — in battle, charioteer, fear would not come near me.”
हे सारथी, युद्ध में विश्वविजयी विष्णु — मेरे मामा — या मेरे पिता अर्जुन भी सामने आ जाएँ, तब भी भय मेरे पास नहीं आएगा।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.35.7 · Abhimanyu to his charioteer
स कर्णिकारप्रवरोच्छ्रितध्वजः
सुवर्णवर्मार्जुनिरर्जुनाद्वरः ।
युयुत्सया द्रोणमुखान्महारथान्
समासदत्सिंहशिशुर्यथा गजान् ॥
सुवर्णवर्मार्जुनिरर्जुनाद्वरः ।
युयुत्सया द्रोणमुखान्महारथान्
समासदत्सिंहशिशुर्यथा गजान् ॥
sa karṇikārapravarocchritadhvajaḥ
suvarṇavarmārjunir arjunād varaḥ
yuyutsayā droṇamukhān mahārathān
samāsadat siṃhaśiśur yathā gajān
suvarṇavarmārjunir arjunād varaḥ
yuyutsayā droṇamukhān mahārathān
samāsadat siṃhaśiśur yathā gajān
“Under his tall banner of the karnikara tree, in golden armour, Arjuna's son — greater even than Arjuna — hungry for battle, fell on the great chariot-warriors led by Drona, like a lion cub falling on elephants.”
कर्णिकार वृक्ष की ऊँची ध्वजा वाला, सोने का कवच पहने अर्जुन-पुत्र — जो अर्जुन से भी बढ़कर था — युद्ध की इच्छा से द्रोण आदि महारथियों पर ऐसे टूट पड़ा, जैसे सिंह का बच्चा हाथियों पर।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.35.12 · Sanjaya, as Abhimanyu charges
द्रोणस्य दृढमव्यग्रमनीकप्रवरं युधि ।
पितॄणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नवगाहे भिनद्मि च ॥
उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकस्य भेदने ।
नोत्सहे तु विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्यांचिदापदि ॥
पितॄणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नवगाहे भिनद्मि च ॥
उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकस्य भेदने ।
नोत्सहे तु विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्यांचिदापदि ॥
droṇasya dṛḍham avyagram anīkapravaraṃ yudhi
pitṝṇāṃ jayam ākāṅkṣann avagāhe bhinadmi ca
upadiṣṭo hi me pitrā yogo 'nīkasya bhedane
notsahe tu vinirgantum ahaṃ kasyāṃcid āpadi
pitṝṇāṃ jayam ākāṅkṣann avagāhe bhinadmi ca
upadiṣṭo hi me pitrā yogo 'nīkasya bhedane
notsahe tu vinirgantum ahaṃ kasyāṃcid āpadi
“Drona's army is strong, steady, the finest on the field — yet for my fathers' victory I will plunge into it and break it. My father taught me how to break into that formation. But if danger comes, I cannot get out again.”
द्रोण की सेना दृढ़, अडिग और युद्ध में सबसे उत्तम है — फिर भी अपने पिताओं की विजय के लिए मैं उसमें घुसकर उसे तोड़ दूँगा। पिता ने मुझे इस व्यूह को तोड़ने का उपाय सिखाया है; पर किसी संकट में मैं उससे बाहर नहीं निकल सकूँगा।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.34.18–19 · Abhimanyu to Yudhishthira
समुद्रमिव पर्यस्तं त्वदीयं तद्बलार्णवम् ।
अभिमन्युर्दधारैको वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥
अभिमन्युर्दधारैको वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥
samudram iva paryastaṃ tvadīyaṃ tad balārṇavam
abhimanyur dadhāraiko veleva makarālayam
abhimanyur dadhāraiko veleva makarālayam
“Your army came pouring over him like the ocean in flood — and Abhimanyu, alone, held it back, as the shore holds back the sea.”
आपकी सेना का वह सागर उमड़कर उस पर टूट पड़ा, पर अकेले अभिमन्यु ने उसे वैसे ही रोक दिया जैसे तट समुद्र को रोक लेता है।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.36.13 · Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra
स शरार्दितसर्वाङ्गः क्रुद्धः शक्रात्मजात्मजः ।
विचरन्दृश्यते सैन्ये पाशहस्त इवान्तकः ॥
विचरन्दृश्यते सैन्ये पाशहस्त इवान्तकः ॥
sa śarārditasarvāṅgaḥ kruddhaḥ śakrātmajātmajaḥ
vicaran dṛśyate sainye pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ
vicaran dṛśyate sainye pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ
“Every limb pierced by arrows, the grandson of Indra raged through the army like Death himself with the noose in his hand.”
बाणों से सारा शरीर घायल, क्रोध में भरा इन्द्र का पौत्र सेना में ऐसे घूमता दिख रहा था मानो हाथ में पाश लिए स्वयं यमराज हों।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.36.31 · Sanjaya
त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले विरथं षण्महारथाः ।
शरवर्षैरकरुणा बालमेकमवाकिरन् ॥
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथः स्वधर्ममनुपालयन् ।
खड्गचर्मधरः श्रीमानुत्पपात विहायसम् ॥
शरवर्षैरकरुणा बालमेकमवाकिरन् ॥
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथः स्वधर्ममनुपालयन् ।
खड्गचर्मधरः श्रीमानुत्पपात विहायसम् ॥
tvaramāṇās tvarākāle virathaṃ ṣaṇ mahārathāḥ
śaravarṣair akaruṇā bālam ekam avākiran
sa chinnadhanvā virathaḥ svadharmam anupālayan
khaḍgacarmadharaḥ śrīmān utpapāta vihāyasam
śaravarṣair akaruṇā bālam ekam avākiran
sa chinnadhanvā virathaḥ svadharmam anupālayan
khaḍgacarmadharaḥ śrīmān utpapāta vihāyasam
“Seizing their moment, six great chariot-warriors, without pity, poured showers of arrows on one boy who had lost his chariot. His bow cut, his chariot gone, still keeping to his dharma as a warrior, he took up sword and shield and leapt into the sky.”
मौका देखकर छह महारथियों ने निर्दयता से उस अकेले, रथहीन बालक पर बाणों की वर्षा कर दी। धनुष कट गया, रथ छिन गया — फिर भी अपने क्षत्रिय-धर्म का पालन करते हुए वह तलवार और ढाल लेकर आकाश में उछल पड़ा।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.47.33–34 · Sanjaya
व्यसिचर्मेषुपूर्णाङ्गः सोऽन्तरिक्षात्पुनः क्षितिम् ।
आस्थितश्चक्रमुद्यम्य द्रोणं क्रुद्धोऽभ्यधावत ॥
आस्थितश्चक्रमुद्यम्य द्रोणं क्रुद्धोऽभ्यधावत ॥
vyasicarmeṣupūrṇāṅgaḥ so 'ntarikṣāt punaḥ kṣitim
āsthitaś cakram udyamya droṇaṃ kruddho 'bhyadhāvata
āsthitaś cakram udyamya droṇaṃ kruddho 'bhyadhāvata
“Stripped of sword and shield, his body full of arrows, he came down from the sky to the earth — lifted a chariot wheel, and charged at Drona in fury.”
तलवार और ढाल भी छिन गई, शरीर बाणों से भरा था — वह आकाश से धरती पर उतरा, रथ का पहिया उठाया और क्रोध से द्रोण पर टूट पड़ा।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.47.38 · Sanjaya · the chariot wheel
क्षोभयित्वा चमूं सर्वां नलिनीमिव कुञ्जरः ।
अशोभत हतो वीरो व्याधैर्वनगजो यथा ॥
अशोभत हतो वीरो व्याधैर्वनगजो यथा ॥
kṣobhayitvā camūṃ sarvāṃ nalinīm iva kuñjaraḥ
aśobhata hato vīro vyādhair vanagajo yathā
aśobhata hato vīro vyādhair vanagajo yathā
“He had churned the whole army as an elephant churns a lotus pond. Slain, the hero lay there in splendour, like a wild elephant brought down by hunters.”
जैसे हाथी कमल-सरोवर को मथ डालता है, वैसे ही उसने पूरी सेना को मथ डाला था। मारा जाकर भी वह वीर ऐसा शोभित था जैसे शिकारियों द्वारा गिराया गया जंगली हाथी।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.48.14 · Sanjaya, at Abhimanyu's fall
Arjuna was fighting elsewhere that day. When he came back and heard how his son had died — and that Jayadratha had held the other Pandavas at the mouth of the formation so no one could follow him in — he fell to the ground. Then he stood up and made a vow.
Arjuna's vow
सत्यं वः प्रतिजानामि श्वोऽस्मि हन्ता जयद्रथम् ।
न चेद्वधभयाद्भीतो धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रहास्यति ॥
न चेद्वधभयाद्भीतो धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रहास्यति ॥
satyaṃ vaḥ pratijānāmi śvo 'smi hantā jayadratham
na ced vadhabhayād bhīto dhārtarāṣṭrān prahāsyati
na ced vadhabhayād bhīto dhārtarāṣṭrān prahāsyati
“I give you my true word: tomorrow I will kill Jayadratha — unless, afraid for his life, he deserts the sons of Dhritarashtra.”
मैं तुमसे सच्ची प्रतिज्ञा करता हूँ — कल मैं जयद्रथ को मार डालूँगा, यदि वह मृत्यु के डर से धृतराष्ट्र के पुत्रों का साथ न छोड़ दे।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.51.20 · Arjuna, after his son's death
इमां चाप्यपरां भूयः प्रतिज्ञां मे निबोधत ।
यद्यस्मिन्नहते पापे सूर्योऽस्तमुपयास्यति ।
इहैव संप्रवेष्टाहं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥
यद्यस्मिन्नहते पापे सूर्योऽस्तमुपयास्यति ।
इहैव संप्रवेष्टाहं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥
imāṃ cāpy aparāṃ bhūyaḥ pratijñāṃ me nibodhata
yady asminn ahate pāpe sūryo 'stam upayāsyati
ihaiva saṃpraveṣṭāhaṃ jvalitaṃ jātavedasam
yady asminn ahate pāpe sūryo 'stam upayāsyati
ihaiva saṃpraveṣṭāhaṃ jvalitaṃ jātavedasam
“Hear one more vow of mine: if the sun sets and that sinner is still alive, I will walk into a blazing fire, right here.”
मेरी यह दूसरी प्रतिज्ञा भी सुन लो — यदि उस पापी के मरे बिना सूर्य अस्त हो गया, तो मैं यहीं धधकती आग में प्रवेश कर जाऊँगा।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.51.37 · Arjuna
Famous “Abhimanyu quotes” that aren't in the Mahabharata
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अहमस्मि योधः“I am a warrior.” Good Sanskrit, and we print it ourselves — but it isn't in the Mahabharata. We searched all eighteen books of the critical edition, and the Valmiki Ramayana, and it appears in neither. It's a modern line; we couldn't trace who first wrote it.Modern Sanskrit line · origin untraced
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Abhimanyu learned the chakravyuh in his mother's wombThe most famous Abhimanyu story. In the critical edition he says his father taught him how to break in (7.34.19, above). A line about hearing it from Krishna while still in the womb is found in some manuscripts, but the critical edition sets it aside as a later addition. The full bedtime story of Arjuna telling Subhadra is later still.Later addition · not in the critical edition
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नाहं पार्थेन जातः स्यां न च जातः सुभद्रया…“Let me not be called the son of Partha or of Subhadra if anyone escapes me alive today.” A fierce boast found in some manuscripts after 7.34.26; the critical edition treats it as a later addition.Later addition · not in the critical edition
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“Seven maharathis killed Abhimanyu”The Mahabharata says six great chariot-warriors surrounded him (7.47.33); Yudhishthira names Drona, Kripa, Karna, Ashvatthama, Brihadbala and Kritavarman (7.51.10). The final blow was a mace, from Dushasana's son (7.48.12–13).Popular retelling · the text says six
Questions people ask
What did Abhimanyu say before entering the chakravyuh?
He told Yudhishthira he would go into Drona's army “like an enraged moth into a blazing fire” (7.34.24), and admitted that his father had taught him how to break in, but that he could not get out again if danger came (7.34.19). When his charioteer warned him, he laughed: “Charioteer, who is this Drona?” (7.35.5).
Is “Ahamasmi Yodhah” from the Mahabharata?
No. अहमस्मि योधः (“I am a warrior”) is correct Sanskrit, but it doesn't occur in the Mahabharata or the Ramayana. It is a modern line.
Did Abhimanyu really learn the chakravyuh in the womb?
Not in the critical edition. There, Abhimanyu says his father taught him. The womb story is in some later manuscripts and in retellings.
Who killed Abhimanyu?
Six chariot-warriors cut his bow and broke his chariot; he fought on with a sword, then a chariot wheel, then a mace, and was killed by a mace blow from Dushasana's son (Drona Parva 7.47–48).
What was Arjuna's vow after Abhimanyu's death?
To kill Jayadratha before sunset the next day — or walk into fire himself (7.51.20, 7.51.37).
Where do these meanings come from?
The Sanskrit is from the critical edition of the Mahabharata (Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute). The English and Hindi meanings are our own close renderings.
Bring the whole war home
