Shloka 17
Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)
सेनाग्रमाशु भीष्मस्य प्रापयस्वैतदेव माम् आच्छेत्स्याम्यहमेतस्य धनुज्यामपि चाहवे,“राजकुमार! तुम शीघ्र ही पितामह भीष्मकी इसी सेनाके सामने मेरा रथ ले चलो, मुझे पहुँचाओ। इस युद्धमें मैं इनकी प्रत्यंचा भी काट डालूँगा
senāgram āśu bhīṣmasya prāpayasvaitad eva mām | ācchetsyāmy aham etasya dhanujyām api cāhave ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Prince, quickly drive my chariot straight to the very front of Bhīṣma’s army and bring me there. In this battle I shall cut even his bowstring.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a righteous battle, a warrior may need firm, even drastic, measures to restrain a formidable opponent; reverence for elders does not erase the demands of duty when protection and justice are at stake.
The speaker orders the charioteer—addressed as “prince”—to drive swiftly to the forefront of Bhīṣma’s forces, declaring an intention to disable Bhīṣma by cutting his bowstring, a tactical act meant to neutralize his combat power.