Abhimanyu

Family: Pandavs · Role: son of Arjun · First appears: Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · Introduction

Shortly after Draupadi’s bridal, Arjun married Krishna’s sister Subhadra, and she bore Abhimanyu, one of the heroes of the war. In Book VI (Cattle-Lifting) · V. Warrior's Guerdon, Arjun proposed that Abhimanyu wed Virata’s daughter, the princess of the Matsya house, and Virata agreed. At the bridal in Book VI (Cattle-Lifting) · VI. The Wedding, Arjun joined their hands, with Yudhishthir standing beside him; Abhimanyu had been “nursed by Krishna's loving care.”

In Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · I. Pandavs routed by Bhishma, Bhishma struck Abhimanyu with arrows, leaving him fainted; in Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · II. Kurus routed by Arjun, Duryodhan came to save his son Lakshman from Abhimanyu, who later wounded Lakshman and drove him from the field. In Book IX (Fall of Drona) · I. Single Combat between Bhima and Salya, Abhimanyu dragged Paurava from his chariot and took him captive, while Jayadratha’s sword broke against his buckler. On the fatal morning in Book IX (Fall of Drona) · III. Abhimanyu's Death, Abhimanyu charged alone through the enemy forces, struck Duhsasan, and killed Lakshman before his father. Jayadratha and six warriors surrounded him; after his car and weapons were shattered and his driver slain, Abhimanyu fought and fell. His mother Subhadra mourned him, and funeral rites were performed for him in Book XI (Funeral Rites) · IV. Funeral Rite. Book XII (Sacrifice of the Horse) · Introduction names his posthumous child Parikshit, destined to succeed to the throne of the Kurus.