Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
मच्चक्षुविंषयं प्राप्तो न त्वं माधव मोक्ष्यसे । सिंहस्य विषयं प्राप्तो यथा क्षुद्रमृगस्तथा,“माधव! जैसे कोई क्षुद्र मृग सिंहकी दृष्टिमें पड़कर जीवित नहीं रह सकता, उसी प्रकार मेरी आँखोंके सामने आकर अब तुम जीवित नहीं छूट सकोगे'
maccakṣu-viṣayaṁ prāpto na tvaṁ mādhava mokṣyase | siṁhasya viṣayaṁ prāpto yathā kṣudra-mṛgas tathā ||
قال سانجيا: «يا ماذافا، وقد صرتَ الآن في مدى بصري فلن تفلت حيّاً. كما أن غزالاً حقيراً إذا وقع في نظر الأسد لا ينجو، كذلك أنت—وقد جئتَ أمامي—لن تُستبقى.»
संजय उवाच
The verse illustrates how, in war, arrogance and the predator-prey mentality can override ethical restraint: the speaker frames killing as inevitable once the opponent is ‘within range,’ revealing the moral danger of pride and dehumanizing comparison.
A warrior issues a direct threat to “Mādhava,” declaring that since he has come into his line of sight he will not escape, using the simile of a small deer caught in a lion’s gaze to emphasize presumed certainty of victory.