At the same time as the Kaurava's launch of the simultaneous offensive against Abhimanyu, Arjuna feels an ominous foreboding and with an inexplicable sense of despondency, he discards his bow and sits down fatigued. Krishna warns that this would be taken by Susharma as a sign of cowardice and reminds Arjuna of his duty to fight. The warfare against the Samsaptakas is a prolonged bloody affair and Arjuna forces himself to concentrate.
Abhimanyu protests that all warriors concurrently fighting him is against dharma. Duryodhana retorts that the first adharmic act was done by Arjuna by bringing in an eunuch to fight Bhishma who was unwilling for a combat with him. Duryodhana, Dushasana, Karna, Shakuni, Ashwatamma, Drona and Kripacharya attack Abhimanyu together.
Shakuni kills Abhimanyu's charioteer and Drona breaks the wheels of the chariot.
His charioteer killed and the chariot broken, Abhimanyu leaps from the chariot holding swords in both the hands and stands on the ground. Even after losing the swords and shield, Abhimanyu continues to fight with Duryodhana, Dushasana, Karna, Shakuni and Ashwatamma with a wheel of his broken chariot.
It is nearly impossible to control the indefatigable hero who continues to wreak havoc with the Kaurava army. Duryodhan commands Karna to strike at Abhimanyu from the back. Karna tries to reason with Duryodhana. Duryodhana is unmoved by his pleas and Karna is constrained to obey. Abhimanyu loses his sword and shield as well. He asks for a weapon but Duryodhana refuses to give him one. He grabs the wheel of his chariot and fights bravely hurling them against the enemy. Duryodhana and Dushasana drive a sword into Abhimanyu as a revenge against the killing of their sons.
In the end that remains for ever a blot on the conscience of humanity, the Kaurava warriors surround the dying hero, dance and rejoice.
The Pandavas lament over Abhimanyu's death and agonize over how to break the news to Arjuna, Subhadra and Uttara. They send Prativindya, the son of Yudhishthira and Draupadi, to inform Subhadra and Uttara about Abhimanyu's death.
Finally, Arjuna kills Susharma and Krishna heads towards the camp. Indra is deeply distressed over Abhimanyu's end. Sage Narada reminds him of his duty to put behind his sorrows and help Arjuna face the trauma.
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