Shloka 11
Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)
नाददानं न संधानं न मुछ्चन्तं शरोत्तमान् । त्वामहं सम्प्रपश्यामि पश्यन्नपि न चेतन:
nādadānaṃ na sandhānaṃ na muñcantaṃ śarottamān | tvām ahaṃ samprapaśyāmi paśyann api na cetanaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Ich vermag nicht zu erkennen, wann du die besten Pfeile ergreifst, wann du sie auf den Bogen legst oder wann du sie abschießt. Obwohl ich dich unablässig beobachte, versagt mir das Bewusstsein – als wären meine Sinne von der bloßen Schnelligkeit und Meisterschaft deines Bogenschießens betäubt.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary mastery can overwhelm ordinary perception: true excellence in a discipline (here, archery) may appear almost invisible, reminding the listener of the limits of sensory awareness and the awe inspired by perfected skill.
The speaker describes watching a warrior so swift and precise that the usual stages of archery—taking arrows, setting them to the bow, and releasing—cannot be distinctly seen; even while looking, the observer feels mentally stunned and unable to register the actions.