Why was Abhimanyu killed so mercilessly? Wasn't Karna or Dronacharya capable of defeating Abhimanyu single-handedly? Karna was as skilled as Arjuna, which puts him in the front foot against Abhimanyu.

Why was Abhimanyu killed so mercilessly? Wasn't Karna or Dronacharya capable of defeating Abhimanyu single-handedly? Karna was as skilled as Arjuna, which puts him in the front foot against Abhimanyu. Karna was not capable of defeating Abhimanyu in a one on one duel. He tried attacking Abhimanyu many times and was beaten back every single time. Karna himself admitted to Drona that Abhimanyu is too strong for him to handle At this, oppressed by the arrows of Arjuna's son, Karna again spoke to Drona. "I am oppressed by the extremely terrible and energetic arrows of the young Abhimanyu. Nevertheless, I remain stationed here. His arrows are terrible and possess the energy of the fire. They are sapping my heart now." 47, Abhimanyu Vadha parva, Mahabharata. Drona then adviced the Kaurava warriors to destroy all of Abhimanyu’s equipments at the same time. So Karna, Kritavarma and Kripa struck him together destroying his bow, Charioteer and horses Having heard the preceptor's words, Vaikartana Karna used his arrows to swiftly slice down the bow of the lighthanded one. Bhoja killed his horses and Goutama the charioteers who guarded his flanks. Once his bow had been severed, the others enveloped him with a shower of arrows. 47, Abhimanyu Vadha parva, Mahabharata. Abhimanyu then picked up a sword and shield but Drona and Karna sliced them down. Abhimanyu then picked up a chariot wheel but the Kuru warriors struck it down as well. Finally Abhimanyu fought with a mace and was atlast killed by Duhshasana’s son. Drona might have been capable of killing Abhimanyu himself after a long and difficult duel. But he would be soft on the son of his favourite student. The other Kurus were incapable of defeating Abhimanyu by themselves. That is why Drona said that as long as Abhimanyu had his bow, he was invincible If he wields the bow, the gods and the asuras are incapable of vanquishing him. If you so wish, deprive him of his chariot and his bow." 47, Abhimanyu Vadha parva, Mahabharata. Shakuni and Karna expressed a similar fear that Abhimanyu alone would slay the entire Kuru army Soubala pierced him back with three arrows and spoke to Duryodhana. "Let us unite and grind him down. Otherwise, he will kill all of us single-handed." Vrisha Vaikartana Karna then spoke to Drona. "Before he destroys all of us, tell us how we can swiftly kill him."