Shloka 23
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 45: Saubhadra–Lakṣmaṇa-saṃyoga and Kaurava Counter-Encirclement
एकधा शतधा राजन् दृश्यते सम सहस्रधा । अलातचक्रवत् संख्ये क्षिप्रमस्त्राणि दर्शयन्,राजन! वह शीघ्रतापूर्वक अस्त्रसंचालनका कौशल दिखाता हुआ युद्धमें अलातचक्रकी भाँति एक, शत तथा सहसौरों रूपोंमें दृष्टिगोचर होता था
ekadhā śatadhā rājan dṛśyate sa sahasradhā | alātacakravat saṅkhye kṣipram astrāṇi darśayan ||
サञ्जयは語った。王よ、その戦いにおいて彼は、ある時は一人、ある時は百人、さらには千人にも見えた――矢弾をあまりに素早く繰り出したためである。燃える松明を振り回して生じる火の輪のようであった。この偈は、速度と熟達が多身の幻を生み、戦場の恐怖と混乱をいっそう増すことを示している。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary speed and technical mastery can alter perception in war, creating an appearance of many forms from one person—an image that conveys both the power of skill and the psychological impact (fear, confusion) it produces.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a warrior, rapidly wielding and releasing weapons in the thick of battle, seemed to appear as one, a hundred, or a thousand—like the circular streak of light seen when a burning brand is spun quickly.