Shloka 22
Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana
मानवास्त्रेण मानार्हस्ती क्ष्णावरण भेदिना । संजय कहते हैं--राजन! ऐसा कहकर माननीय अर्जुनने कठोर आवरणका भेदन करनेवाले मानवास्त्रसे अपने बाणोंको अभिमन्त्रित करके धनुषकी डोरीको खींचा ।। २१३ || विकृष्यमाणांस्तेनैव धनुर्मध्यगतान् छरान्
sañjaya uvāca | mānavāstreṇa mānārhas tīkṣṇāvaraṇa-bhedinā | rājann ity uktvā mānanyo 'rjunas tena mānavāstreṇa svabāṇān abhimantrya dhanurjyāṃ vyākarṣat || vikṛṣyamāṇāṃs tenaiva dhanur-madhya-gatān śarān ||
Sañjaya said: O King, having spoken thus, the honored Arjuna empowered his arrows with the Mānavāstra—an incisive weapon capable of piercing even hard armor—and then drew back the bowstring. As he pulled, the arrows set at the middle of the bow were drawn tight, ready to be released. The scene underscores disciplined restraint: force is not unleashed blindly, but prepared with deliberate intent within the grim demands of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, power is to be exercised with discipline and intention: Arjuna does not act impulsively but prepares a specific astra through mantra, implying responsibility, skill, and controlled use of force within dharma.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, after speaking, consecrates his arrows with the Mānavāstra—described as capable of piercing hard armor—and draws the bowstring, readying the arrows for release.