Shloka 16
धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama
शतानि पज्च चैवेषून् यो गृह्नन् नैव दृश्यते । निमेषान्तरमात्रेण मुछ्चन् दूरं च पातयन्
śatāni pañca caiveṣūn yo gṛhṇan naiva dṛśyate | nimeṣāntaramātreṇa muñcan dūraṃ ca pātayan ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—जो पाँच सौ बाण उठाते हुए भी दिखाई नहीं देता; जो एक निमेष के भीतर उन्हें छोड़कर दूरस्थ लक्ष्यों पर गिरा देता है।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of consummate skill (śaurya and kauśala) in a kṣatriya, suggesting that extraordinary power becomes ethically meaningful when aligned with dharma—here, the looming war is framed as one where such prowess will decisively protect a righteous cause.
Vaiśampāyana describes a warrior—contextually Arjuna—whose archery is so swift that he can seize and release five hundred arrows within a blink, striking distant targets while remaining visually imperceptible, emphasizing his terrifying effectiveness in the coming battle.