Shloka 18
प्रासाश्न मुद्गरा: शक्तयस्तोमराश्न मा भैषीस्त्वं सड़क्षयादायुधानाम्
prāsāś ca mudgarāḥ śaktayas tomarāś ca mā bhaiṣīs tvaṁ ṣaḍakṣayād āyudhānām, pāṇḍunandana! adyāpi te bahūny āyudhāni śeṣāṇi santi yāni ṣaḍvṛṣabhayuktaḥ śakaṭo 'pi na śaknoti vahanam. vidvan! eṣāṁ sahasrāṇām astrāṇāṁ prayogaṁ kuru. adyāpi tava bahvyo gadāḥ khaḍgāś ca bāhubalasampattiś ca. tathā bahavaḥ prāsā mudgarāḥ śaktayas tomarāś ca śeṣāḥ. āyudhāntabhayena mā tiṣṭha.
Viśoka dijo: «Aún quedan lanzas, mazas, jabalinas y picas—no temas que tus armas se agoten, oh hijo de Pāṇḍu. Incluso ahora te restan tantas que ni un carro uncido a seis bueyes podría cargarlas. Oh sabio, haz uso de estos millares de proyectiles. Todavía posees muchas clavas y espadas, y la riqueza de la fuerza de tu propio brazo. Asimismo, quedan en reserva muchas lanzas, mazas, jabalinas y picas. Por tanto, no permanezcas en zozobra pensando que tus armas se acabarán».
विशोक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes steadiness and courage in crisis: do not succumb to fear or scarcity-thinking. In a dharmic martial context, one should act with presence of mind, using available means and relying on trained strength rather than being paralyzed by anxiety about depletion.
On the battlefield in Karṇa-parvan, Viśoka addresses a Pāṇḍava (pāṇḍunandana), reassuring him that many weapons still remain. He urges him to deploy the remaining missiles and arms—spears, maces, javelins, lances, swords—and not to fear that his arsenal will be exhausted.