35 - 533 - Abhimanyu

Abhimanyu was the blessed son of Arjuna and Subhadra, Krishna's sister. He was as brave and a skilled archer as his father. He is sometimes referred as Arjuna's favorite son.

Failing in the game of dice, the Pandavas had to go on an exile for 13 long years. Leaving the infant Abhimanyu in his mother Subhadra and uncle Krishna's care, Arjuna followed his brothers and wife to the exile. On its completion, when Uttara was offered to be Arjuna's wife, he asked her hand in marriage for his son, Abhimanyu. Thus, the marriage was celebrated with great pomp. But, once the Kurukshetra started, the Kauravas thought of some way to put an end to Yudhishtira. They tricked Arjuna and Krishna out of the way and formed the Chakravyuha which was mastered by very few and none were available at the moment. Young Abhimanyu knew only to break into the formation but not come out of it. How he does it and what perils does he face are better read in the book than explained.