On the thirteenth day, Arjuna was carried away once more by the army led by Susharma. Fighting against Susharma, Arjuna was led away in the southern direction. Krishna knew all this. So, he was smiling when Arjuna was not there. Drona arrayed his forces in chakravyuha (lotus formation). Abhimanyu knew how to enter the formation, but did not know how to get out of it.
However, Yudhishthira, Bhima and the other warriors said that they would get him out as they were following him from close range. Abhimanyu went into the lotus formation but, before the other Pandavas could enter, it was closed by Jayadratha, king of Sindhu and an ally of the Kauravas. As per the boon, it was Jayadratha’s day. The Pandava brothers were unsuccessful in overpowering him. Abhimanyu was caught inside alone among the Kaurava forces. He fought valiantly against Drona, Ashwatthama, Kripa, Karna, Shakuni, Shalya, Dushasana and the others, wounding many of them. Soon Abhimanyu killed Lakshmana, Duryodhana’s son. Duryodhana was filled with grief and yelled, “Launch a combined attack and kill this son of Arjuna.” Drona’s silence emboldened Duryodhana. Then Drona, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Shalya and Dushasana launched a combined attack on Abhimanyu. They killed his horses and charioteer, and broke his weapons. Then Abhimanyu picked up a wheel of his broken chariot, whirling it as a weapon. But Dushasana’s son finally killed him.
After the fall of Abhimanyu a wave of joy ran through the camp of the Kaurava army. Yuyutsu, one of Dhritrashtra’s sons, was so angry and ashamed of his brothers and their friends that he threw down his arms and left the battlefield. Yudhishthira mourned for Abhimanyu; he felt miserable, for it was he who sent him into the chakravyuha.
Arjuna returned with Krishna to the camp. He was shattered by the news of his son’s death. Krishna tried to comfort him. Yudhishthira told him about the whole event. He also told Arjuna how Jayadratha had prevented them from helping Abhimanyu.
Grief-stricken Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha by sunset the next day. In case he failed, he would commit suicide. Hearing the vow of Arjuna, Krishna was lost in thought. Jayadratha’s father blessed Jayadratha that whoever caused his son’s head to roll on the ground, his head would burst into hundreds of pieces.
