( The BH in this name is pronounced like a hardened sound of 'b' in 'bin'. The N is pronounced like 'n' in 'gun'. It conjuncts with the Y next to it, which is a consonant pronounced like 'y'in 'you' . )
Nowhere else can we find a better example of a 'fitting son' than in Abhimanyu. Few fathers won't dream for such a son . Though the epic shows only the facet of valor of his personality , his character catches the reader's mind invariably.
It was told that even the illiterate Akbar had said after listening to the Mahaabhaaratham , " I like two, an old man and a young man." ( Ek boodha our ek ladaka ). He was referring to the oldest of the clan , Bheeshma and one of the youngest generation, Abhimanyu. Though he was not a 'boy' by today's standards , at the age of around 35 , he was really a 'boy' those days.
Abhimanyu was the blessed son of Arjuna and Subhadra .He was the incarnation of the Moon's son named Varchas. Being the nephew of none other than Krishna , he was to be the center of attraction anywhere. Abhimanyu was born when the Paandavas were ruling Indraprastham . He learnt archery from his father himself . People believed him to be the true representative of the valour of the Paandavas and a natural successor to the throne since he was the eldest of the sons of the Paandavas , leaving the demon son Ghatothkacha . He was to spend the years of his prime youth at his maternal uncles' due to his father's exile. During that time, he received thorough instruction in archery from Pradyumna and Saathyaki which made him the best among his age-group.
He was offered Viraata's daughter Uththara in marriage after the Paandavas disclosed themselves from incognito. After the war -in which he died- was over , his wife delivered a dead male baby whom Krishna vivified .The boy was named Pareekshith and he ascended the thrown after Yudhishthira .
In the war, His prowess was beyond match. On the very first day in the war , he cut off the flag staff of none other than the grandsire Bheeshma , attracting the applause of one and all. Any fighter that faced him met only with defeat . His valour reached its zenith on the thirteenth day , when Arjuna was decoyed away from the main battle field and Drona stood with the Lotus formation that no one could break into. He lead a single-handed attack despite knowing only how to break into the formation but not exiting in case of trouble . Jayadratha alone obstructed all the Paandavas side with the power of Lord Shiva's boon to him. None could reach Abhimanyu to help him. Yet, he fought bravely with no second hand to support him , till the evening , but was ultimately killed in a strategem of an en mass attack by the enemies. Yet, he defeated all the stalwarts like Drona, Karna, Duryodhana and Asvaththaama, severally and jointly . In a private talk to Drona, Karna himself confessed that he was severely hit by Abhimanyu, yet standing in the field only for prestige and remarked that Arjuna's hand was not as harsh as his son's.
At the request of Karna to see a way out to save from the indefatiguable Abhimanyu's unbearable attack, Drona advised that he could never be defeated unless he was to be deprived of weapons and vehicle somehow or other. Karna took the lead in the illegal attack. He pretended to be stepping back, came behind Abhimanyu and chopped off his bow from there. Hitting into the back of a warrior was the worst crime in war that could ever happen those days. Karna was even ready to bear that blame, such was his fear of the young fighter that day ! Before Abhimanyu could realise what had happened and could recover, the other stalwarts accounted for his driver, vehicle and horses. Despite being in deep trouble, he invited dignified death, fighting with bow,knife,mace and wheel, literally to the last drop of his blood . In the last fight, a mace fight it was, he engaged Dhshshaasana's son whom he drove away a few hours ago. He fell down in the fight and even as he was struggling to his feet, his opponent hit him on the head sending him dead onto the floor.
The prime reason for his getting trapped in the enemy formation was Jayadratha's breaking in the way of Paandavas who were rushing to help their son . Enraged by this , Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha before sunset the next day and did so with Krishna's help, avenging his beloved son's killing.
Today's young generation should learn prowess , audacity , continence and righteousness from him. Any time, any where in the world , such a son can only be the pride of the parents and envy of others.