Shloka 18
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
तब शत्रुसूदन नरेशने एक बड़ा भयंकर तीखा बाण हाथमें लिया, जो मर्मस्थलोंको विदीर्ण कर देनेवाला था। उस श्रेष्ठ बाणको उन्होंने धनुषपर रखा ।।
tato gavyūtimātreṇa mṛgayūthapayūthapaḥ | tasya bāṇapathaṃ muktvā tasthivān prahasann iva ||
Maka sang raja, penakluk musuh, mengambil sebuah anak panah besar yang mengerikan, tajam, dan mampu merobek titik-titik vital; ia pun memasang anak panah unggul itu pada busurnya. Melihat hal itu, pemimpin kawanan rusa hanya bergeser sejauh satu gavyūti, lolos dari lintasan tembakan sang raja, lalu mencapai jarak dua krośa dan berdiri di sana seakan-akan tertawa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and aggression alone do not guarantee success; alertness, timely movement, and intelligent avoidance can neutralize even a strong attacker. The episode uses hunting imagery to suggest that effective action must be guided by discernment rather than mere force.
As the king prepares to shoot, the leader of the deer herd quickly shifts out of the arrow’s line of flight, moves about a gavyūti away, and stands as if mocking—showing the king’s shot has been effectively evaded.