When we talk about Mahabharata war, none of us forget to talk about Abhimanyu .

Abhimanyu is one of the greatest warriors of the second generation in the Mahābhārata and a legendary figure. He was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra and the nephew of Lord Krishna.

He participated in the Mahābhārata war when he was sixteen years old. On 13^th day of battle, he fought bravely, stood alone against entire Kuru host and created havoc on opposition. Unfortunately he was trapped inside the Chakryavuha since none of the Pandava worrier could able to follow him & he was unaware of the way out of the vyuha & finally killed in combine attack by seven Maharathi’s.

This article is about, why Krishna designated his beloved nephew to death.

  It is all known to us regarding Krishna’s adore towards Padava’s and Draupadi. He had promise Draupadi that whenever she call him, he will come to aid them. Below are the few instances when Krishna pulled them out of trouble:

1.     During Draupadi Vastraharan

2.     Unexpected arrival of Durvasa Muni & his Shishaya’s at Pandava’s Ashram during their days in forest.

3.     He picked the weapon (though not used) during the war against Bhisma when he saw Arjun is standing helpless.

4.      On 14^th day of war he saved Arjuna, covering the sun with Sudarshan Chakra.

There are many more instants to mention here.

Beside this Abhimanyu was most beloved nephew of lord Krishna. He learned material arts by Pradyumna (Krishna’s elder son). He was grown up in Dwaraka since Padava’s on the 13 years exile.

Krishna considered to be lord of universe & knew everything that was happening on battle field, but why did not interfered during Abhimanyu’s killing and that too by unfair means?

In Mahabharata we can find below answers to this question:

1.     Abhimanyu was the incarnation of Varchas, the son of Soma (the Moon-God):

It is mentioned in Brahmapurana (Adiparva of Mahabharata Chapter 67) that once Bhisma requested Sage Pulastya to explain how different entities like the deities, demons and serpents came into being. Sage explained about all manvantars and about Varchas he said as below:

To fight with demons born as human, along with the other gods, moon too had to send his beloved son Varcha on earth in human form.  God moon agreed to have his son Varchas incarnate on earth; but due to the attachment towards his son, he asked for his son’s return after just 16 years.

Thus knowing this all as himself as god of universe, Sri Krishna did not interfere in nephews death.

After the death Abhimanyu went back to Chandra as Varchas.

2.     Abhimanyu’s death was the Turning point of the Mahābhārata War:

   Krishna new that death of Abhimanyu’s could change the battles in Pandava’s favor. Till that time Padava’s suffered heavy loss & were not fighting to their full strength.

  In attacking Abhimanyu’s, the Kauravas committed the biggest breach of ethics and code of the Mahābhārata war. This in a way, was the turning point of the war.

   On the 14th day, the Pandavas retaliated with all their might and fury--holding nothing back. Satyaki, Uttamauja & Udhamanyu followed Arjuna in chase of Jayadratha and created havoc in Kaurava’s army.

   Bhimasena killed twenty-five of Duryodhana's brothers and rendered Karna helpless and ineffective. Arjuna killed Jayadratha. Collectively, they destroyed eight of the eleven Akshauhini Kaurava’s army.

3.     Abhimanyu in his previous birth was known as Abhikasura a demon:

      (No reference to this story in original version of Mahabharata)

According to mythology, Abhimanyu’s untimely death is attributed to his enmity with Lord Krishna in his previous birth. Abhimanyu in his previous birth was known as Abhikasura a demon. He was a friend of King Kans who left no stone unturned to kill his nephew Krishna. After Krishna killed Kans, Abhikasura vowed to take revenge on the former. Krishna, sensing the moves of the demon, wove a magic around Abhikasura, transformed him into an insect and captured him in a box. When Krishna’s sister Subhadra, after her wedding with Arjuna, accidentally opened the box, the insect got into her womb. Abhikasura was then born as Abhimanyu.

Krishna knew this and he rather sadly, prepared the ground for the death of his nephew and finally got him entrapped in Padmavyuha. When Arjuna was mourning the death of his son and squarely blamed Krishna for it, it was then Krishna explained Abhikasura’s reincarnation as Abhimanyu and the necessity for him, as the Supreme Power, to incinerate the evil force.