Shloka 18
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
तब शत्रुसूदन नरेशने एक बड़ा भयंकर तीखा बाण हाथमें लिया, जो मर्मस्थलोंको विदीर्ण कर देनेवाला था। उस श्रेष्ठ बाणको उन्होंने धनुषपर रखा ।।
tato gavyūtimātreṇa mṛgayūthapayūthapaḥ | tasya bāṇapathaṃ muktvā tasthivān prahasann iva ||
Then the king, slayer of foes, took in his hand a great arrow—terrible and keen, fit to rend the vital parts—and set that excellent shaft upon his bow. But the leader of the deer, moving only about a gavyūti away, slipped out of the king’s line of fire and stood there as if laughing.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and aggression alone do not guarantee success; alertness, timely movement, and intelligent avoidance can neutralize even a strong attacker. The episode uses hunting imagery to suggest that effective action must be guided by discernment rather than mere force.
As the king prepares to shoot, the leader of the deer herd quickly shifts out of the arrow’s line of flight, moves about a gavyūti away, and stands as if mocking—showing the king’s shot has been effectively evaded.