Shloka 4
Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana
तेषां नैष्फल्यमालोक्य पुनर्नव च पञ्च च । प्राहिणोन्निशितान् बाणांस्ते चाभ्रश्यन्त वर्मण:,उन्हें निष्फल हुआ देख अर्जुनने पुनः चौदह तीखे बाण चलाये; परंतु वे भी कवचसे फिसल गये
teṣāṃ naiṣphalyam ālokya punar nava ca pañca ca | prāhiṇon niśitān bāṇāṃs te cābhraśyanta varmaṇaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing that their effort had proved fruitless, he again discharged fourteen keen arrows; yet those too slipped away from the armour, failing to take effect. The passage underscores how, in battle, mere exertion is not enough—protection, preparedness, and the limits set by circumstance can render even skillful action ineffective.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the limits of sheer effort in warfare: even well-aimed, sharp arrows can become ineffective when met by strong protection. Ethically, it points to the need for discernment and adaptation—when actions repeatedly fail, one must reassess means rather than rely only on increased force.
Sañjaya describes a moment in the battle where Arjuna, noticing that the previous attempt was unsuccessful, releases fourteen sharp arrows. However, those arrows do not penetrate; they are deflected or slip off the opponent’s armour.