Shloka 44
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
समभ्युदीर्णाश्व॒ तवात्मजांस्तथा निशम्य वीरानभित: स्थितान् रणे । जिघांसुरुग्रं द्रपदात्मजो युवा प्रमोहनास्त्रं युयुजे महारथ:
saṃabhyudīrṇāśva tava ātmajāṃs tathā niśamya vīrān abhitaḥ sthitān raṇe | jighāṃsur ugraṃ drapadātmajo yuvā pramohanāstraṃ yuyuje mahārathaḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ、御子らが奮い立つ馬を駆って前へ押し進み、また戦場の四方に勇士たちが布陣しているのを見聞きすると、ドルパダの若き子は彼らを滅ぼさんとし、恐るべき『プラモーハナ』の武器—心を惑わせる法具—を放った。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, once the intent to kill dominates, warriors resort to fearsome means that can cloud awareness (pramohana). It implicitly warns that in war, ethical clarity is easily lost when victory is pursued through delusion-inducing tactics rather than straightforward valor.
Sañjaya reports that Dhrṣṭadyumna, seeing Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons advancing and warriors arrayed around, decides to strike decisively and uses the Pramohana weapon to stupefy or bewilder the opposing forces on the battlefield.