Shloka 75
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
आवृत्य तु महाबाहुर्यतो द्रौणिस्ततो हयान् अन्तरं प्रददौ पार्थो द्रोणस्य व्यपसर्पितुम्,तब महाबाहु अर्जुनने जिधर अश्वत्थामा था, उसी ओर घोड़ोंको घुमाकर आचार्य द्रोणको भाग जानेका अवसर दे दिया
āvṛtya tu mahābāhur yato drauṇis tato hayān | antaraṁ pradadau pārtho droṇasya vyapasarpitum ||
Then the mighty-armed Arjuna turned the horses toward the direction where Aśvatthāmā was; by doing so, Pārtha deliberately left an opening for Droṇa to withdraw and escape.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in battle, a warrior may choose restraint: creating space for an opponent’s withdrawal can reflect dharmic self-control and avoidance of unnecessary killing, especially when the opponent is an elder/teacher figure like Droṇa.
Arjuna turns his chariot horses toward the side where Aśvatthāmā is, and by shifting his focus he leaves a tactical opening that allows Droṇa an opportunity to disengage and retreat.