AM E074174 Bhartayuddha: The death of Abhimanyu

The hero's death of Abimanyu, son of Arjuna.

While making a foray in which he successfully saved Dharmawangsa, he was cut off and surrounded by the enemy. He was attacked by all the most experienced and famous warriors of the Korawa side. When he finally died he had one hundred arrows in him. Here he is shown fighting on, even after his bow is severed. All around are his attackers: at the top right is Drona, with Duryodana behind him; and beneath them Sakuni, with his younger brother Sarabasa behind. At the top left, the attackers are Jayadarata with Karna behind; and Burisrawa and Dussusana below. At Abimanyu's feet, Laksana Kumara, a son of Duryodana, dies, having been hit by a discus. Across the bottom of the painting are six more Korawa who have been killed by Abimanyu -- on the right are Kertasuta and Sakadurma, brothers of Duryodana, and Senjuruh, one of his ministers; and on the left, two more brothers of Duryodana, Kertasena and Durmasana, with a minister, Whartbala, behind. The lengthy text describes the action. Above the text the sun is about to veiled by clouds, while to the right lightening flashes, and to the left is Dwaja, the thunderbolt of Abimanyu's grandfather, Indra. [ref Anthony Forge, Balinese Traditional Paintings - See Narratives tab]