No, Karna did not deal the final blow to Abhimanyu, but he played a key part in his death. On the thirteenth day of the Kurukshetra war, Abhimanyu broke into Drona’s chakravyuha alone. On Drona’s advice, Karna shot from behind and broke Abhimanyu’s bow, and six warriors then attacked him together. The final blow was struck by the son of Dushasana, who killed Abhimanyu with a mace.
Abhimanyu in the chakravyuha
Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna and Subhadra, knew how to enter the chakravyuha (the circular battle formation) but not how to come out of it. With Arjuna drawn away to another part of the field, the sixteen-year-old led the Pandava attack into the formation. Jayadratha, using a boon from Shiva, held back the other Pandavas at the entrance, so Abhimanyu was trapped inside alone.
Karna’s role
Abhimanyu fought so brilliantly that the Kaurava warriors could not defeat him one by one. Drona told Karna that the boy could not be beaten while he held his bow. Karna then shot from behind and cut Abhimanyu’s bowstring and bow, while others killed his charioteer and horses. Disarmed, Abhimanyu fought on with a sword, then a chariot wheel, against Drona, Kripa, Karna, Ashwatthama, Brihadbala and Kritavarma together, breaking the rules of fair combat.
Who killed Abhimanyu?
Exhausted and wounded, Abhimanyu fought Dushasana’s son with a mace. Both fell, but Dushasana’s son rose first and struck Abhimanyu on the head, killing him. Arjuna, on hearing the news, vowed to kill Jayadratha before the next sunset.
Why it matters for Karna
On day 17, when Karna’s chariot wheel sank and he appealed to the rules of war, Krishna reminded him of Abhimanyu’s unfair killing. That memory is why Arjuna shot him. Read why Karna’s chariot wheel got stuck and the most important moment of the Mahabharata.
More on Karna in the Karna story hub.