Shloka 24
Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana
न्यवेदयत् केशवाय विस्मित: श्वेतवाहन: । ब्रह्मवादी अश्वत्थामाके द्वारा दूरसे ही काट दिये गये उन बाणोंको देखकर श्वेतवाहन अर्जुन चकित हो उठे और श्रीकृष्णको सूचित करते हुए बोले-- || २३ ई ।। नैतदस्त्रं मया शक्यं द्वि: प्रयोक्तुं जनार्दन
sañjaya uvāca |
nyavedayat keśavāya vismitaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ |
naitad astraṃ mayā śakyaṃ dviḥ prayoktuṃ janārdana ||
Sañjaya said: Astonished, Arjuna—he whose chariot bears white horses—reported the matter to Keśava. He said, “O Janārdana, this weapon cannot be employed by me a second time.” In the war’s moral atmosphere, Arjuna’s words show a warrior’s restraint and truthfulness: even in crisis he admits the limits of his power and seeks right counsel from Kṛṣṇa rather than acting from pride or desperation.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violence, dharma includes honesty about one’s capacities and disciplined use of power. Arjuna does not pretend mastery over a divine weapon; he admits its limitation and turns to Kṛṣṇa for guidance, showing humility and ethical restraint rather than reckless escalation.
Arjuna, surprised by the situation on the battlefield (in the surrounding context, the enemy’s arrows being cut down from a distance), informs Kṛṣṇa. He states that the particular astra he has used cannot be discharged a second time, indicating a tactical and spiritual constraint on repeating that weapon.