Shloka 283
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
कर्षतो मुज्चतो बाणान् नान्तरं ददृशे रणे । उस रणभूमिमें दोनों हाथोंसे बाणोंको लेते, धनुषपर रखते, खींचते और छोड़ते हुए कर्णके इन कार्योंमें कोई अन्तर नहीं दिखायी देता था
sañjaya uvāca |
karṣato muñcato bāṇān nāntaraṃ dadṛśe raṇe |
Sañjaya said: On the battlefield, as he seized the arrows and released them, no difference at all could be perceived in his action—whether taking them in hand, setting them to the bow, drawing, or letting fly. The scene underscores the terrifying steadiness of a master archer in war, where skill becomes relentless force and the moral weight of combat is carried by unwavering execution of one’s chosen side.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how consummate skill in warfare can appear seamless and unbroken—action flowing without hesitation. Ethically, it invites reflection on how disciplined competence amplifies the consequences of one’s chosen allegiance in a righteous or unrighteous cause.
Sañjaya describes the battle scene: the archer’s movements—taking arrows, fixing them to the bow, drawing, and releasing—are so continuous and precise that no gap or distinction is noticeable in the midst of combat.