Shloka 23
Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)
मया चक्रमिवादिद्धं सैन्यं द्रक्ष्यसि केवलम् । इष्वस्त्रे शिक्षितं चित्रमहं दर्शयितास्मि ते
mayā cakram ivādiddhaṃ sainyaṃ drakṣyasi kevalam | iṣv-astre śikṣitaṃ citram ahaṃ darśayitāsmi te |
「私の矢に射抜かれた全軍が、輪のようにうず巻いて回るのをお前は見るであろう。今日、弓箭の術において私が修めた奇しき技を、お前に示してみせる。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined mastery: martial power is not mere violence but a trained art (śikṣita) to be demonstrated with control and purpose, underscoring responsibility in the use of force.
A warrior (as reported by Vaiśampāyana) declares that the opposing army will appear to whirl like a wheel after being struck by his arrows, and he promises to display his extraordinary training in archery.