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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 111 Wonderful Abhimanyu >>
 |  | Thereafter Lord Krsna's beloved sister Subhadra gave birth to a brilliant and beautiful child, just as Paulomi had given birth to Jayanta. Subhadra's son had long arms, exceptional strength, and large eyes like a bull. He was destined to subdue his enemies. This future hero and leader of men was named Abhimanyu because he was fearless (abhi) and capable of powerful anger (manyu). He arose from Dhananjaya Arjuna in the womb of the Satvata princess, just as sacred fire springs from the sami firewood in the course of sacrifice. When Abhimanyu was born, Kunti's mighty-armed son Yudhisthira awarded to the brahmanas ten thousand cows and as many coins.
| | | From birth the child became a favorite of Lord Krsna, and indeed of all his uncles, just as the cool moon-rays are dear to hard-working people. Sri Krsna Himself performed the religious rites, beginning with the birth ceremony, that invoke blessings on children, and the boy grew steadily like the waxing moon.
| | | Arjuna knew the military Veda, and he taught his child, a tamer of enemies, the entire tenfold military science, Dhanur Veda, in its four divisions, including knowledge of both human and divine weapons. The mighty father taught his son the finest techniques in the use of weapons—skills that can be acquired only by long experience. In all the duties of royalty, Arjuna gave him extraordinary training. When Arjuna saw that his son by Subhadra was equal to the father in theory and practice, Arjuna was satisfied.
| | | Like the lord of heaven admiring his son, Arjuna, of frightening prowess, gazed upon his child, admiring his invincible fortitude; the hard muscle throughout his limbs; the signs of nobility on his body; his neck and shoulders like those of a bull; and his wide jaws as forbidding as the jaws of a cobra. A grand wielder of the bow, Abhimanyu was as proud as a lion, with the courage of a maddened elephant, a deep voice like thunder or rumbling kettledrums, and a face as bright and handsome as the full moon. He was just like Krsna Himself in courage, power, beauty, and physique.
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