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Around page 2829 of the CE Sanjaya says

O king! Abhimanyu was still a child and had not yet attained youth. But he was killed

He was full of ecstatic praise for Abhimanyu's valor when he was killing Dhritarashtra's soldiers and kinsmen- but Abhimanyu became a child for Sanjaya after he was killed in a one-on-one combat with another soldier who might have been a child too - Duhshasana's son.

Was there an agreement not to use children in the war?

And whether there was an agreement or not, was anybody under age 18 known to have fought in the war?

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    Abhimanyu was not killed in one-on-one combat. 7 Maharathis surrounded him during his defeat, Karn attacked him from behind and destroyed his armor and chariot, ever after that Abhimanyu continued to fight, but when he was out tired and exhausted laying on the ground almost unconscious, Duhshasana's son hit on his head with a mace to kill him.
    – V.Aggarwal
    Apr 6, 2021 at 12:06
  • No such agreement was made to not use children, Sanjay refers to him as a child because of the sheer brutality and mercilessness with which he was killed by the respected adults.
    – V.Aggarwal
    Apr 6, 2021 at 12:11
  • I suppose Abhimanyu killed Kauravan armymen with gentleness and mercy. TV serials build up such an emotional investment by modern viewers. Read KMG or the CE to understand what really happened @VAggarwal.
    – S K
    Apr 6, 2021 at 12:16
  • I did not describe the situation based on TV serials, I have done my share of reading too.
    – V.Aggarwal
    Apr 6, 2021 at 12:44
  • Please follow this answer to get details of his death. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/30109/15734
    – V.Aggarwal
    Apr 6, 2021 at 12:52

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Even if there was such a rule, Abhimanyu can't be qualified as a child. Abhimanyu born at the time of Kahandava dahan.

Then Subhadra, the favourite sister of Kesava, gave birth to an illustrious son, like Puloma's daughter, (the queen of heaven) bringing forth Jayanta.

Adi Parva CCXXIII

Thirty three years had passed to that incident at the time of kurukshtera war.

Three and thirty years have passed away since the time, when Arjuna, having invited Agni, gratified him at Khandava, vanquishing all the celestials.

Udyoga Prava LII

It means Abhimanyu was 33+ years old so he can't be a child.

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    That's an astounding discovery, @sanatan darshan . So you are saying no child-soldiers fought in the war?
    – S K
    Apr 7, 2021 at 1:32
  • Please refer here: sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm "And let him, ye best of immortals, stay on earth for sixteen years." "And when he attaineth to his sixteenth year, the battle shall take place...". So Abhimanyu was 16 when he died.
    – V.Aggarwal
    Apr 7, 2021 at 3:31
  • @V.Aggarwal I think it's a contradiction.
    – Sanatan Darshan
    Apr 7, 2021 at 8:17

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