Son of Arjuna and Subhadra

Abhimanyu is born to Arjuna and Subhadra, the sister of Krishna. It is said that while still in his mother’s womb he overheard Arjuna describing how to break into the spiralling battle-formation called the Chakravyuha — but Subhadra fell asleep before the secret of escaping it was told, so the child learned only how to enter.

The trap of the Chakravyuha

Married to Princess Uttara of Virata, Abhimanyu grows into a warrior of dazzling courage. On the thirteenth day of the war, when no other Pandava warrior can pierce Drona’s Chakravyuha, the sixteen-year-old alone cuts his way in, wreaking havoc among the greatest champions of the Kaurava host.

A hero’s fall

But Jayadratha seals the breach behind him, trapping the boy within. Surrounded and attacked by many warriors at once — in flagrant violation of the war’s code — Abhimanyu fights on with broken weapons until he is killed. His death drives his father to the terrible vow that ends Jayadratha’s life. Through Abhimanyu’s son Parikshit, the royal line of the Pandavas survives.

Abhimanyu embodies fearless courage and the tragedy of innocence sacrificed in war — the bright young soul who gives everything, knowing only how to advance and never how to retreat.

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Role in the Mahabharata

Abhimanyu, the valiant son of Arjuna and Subhadra, learned while still in the womb how to penetrate the deadly spiral formation called the chakravyuha — but not how to escape it. On the war’s thirteenth day he broke into the formation alone and fought heroically until, surrounded and disarmed against all the rules of war, he was slain. His death devastated the Pandavas and steeled their resolve.