Shloka 23
Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)
मया चक्रमिवादिद्धं सैन्यं द्रक्ष्यसि केवलम् । इष्वस्त्रे शिक्षितं चित्रमहं दर्शयितास्मि ते
mayā cakram ivādiddhaṃ sainyaṃ drakṣyasi kevalam | iṣv-astre śikṣitaṃ citram ahaṃ darśayitāsmi te |
«Verás al ejército entero, herido por mis flechas, girar como una rueda. Hoy te mostraré la maravillosa destreza que he dominado en la ciencia del tiro con arco.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined mastery: martial power is not mere violence but a trained art (śikṣita) to be demonstrated with control and purpose, underscoring responsibility in the use of force.
A warrior (as reported by Vaiśampāyana) declares that the opposing army will appear to whirl like a wheel after being struck by his arrows, and he promises to display his extraordinary training in archery.