द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
युध्यतां पाण्डवान् शक््त्या तेषां चास्मान् युयुत्सताम् । तेजस्तेज: समासाद्य प्रशमं याति भारत,“हम यथाशक्ति पाण्डवोंसे युद्ध करते हैं और वे हमलोगोंसे युद्ध करना चाहते हैं। भारत! इस प्रकार हमारा तेज परस्पर एक-दूसरेसे टकराकर शान्त हो जाता है
yudhyatāṁ pāṇḍavān śaktyā teṣāṁ cāsmān yuyutsatām | tejastejaḥ samāsādya praśamaṁ yāti bhārata ||
Kami bertempur melawan Pāṇḍava sesuai kemampuan kami, dan mereka pun berhasrat bertempur melawan kami. Wahai Bhārata, ketika daya bertemu daya dan saling beradu, keganasannya terkikis lalu mereda menjadi tenang.
संजय उवाच
Even in righteous warfare, strength has limits: when equally matched forces collide, their ‘tejas’ is checked and exhausted, leading to a temporary pacification. The verse highlights the natural balancing of power and the restraint that arises from mutual resistance rather than from mere aggression.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava side fights the Pāṇḍavas to the best of their ability, while the Pāṇḍavas are equally intent on fighting back. The clash of both sides’ martial energies results in neither side gaining unchecked momentum; the intensity is blunted as their forces meet.