Shloka 246
Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana
अस्त्र मामेव हन्याद्धि हन्याच्चापि बल॑ मम । “जनार्दन! इस अस्त्रका मैं दो बार प्रयोग नहीं कर सकता; क्योंकि ऐसा करनेपर यह मुझे ही मार डालेगा और मेरी सेनाका भी संहार कर देगा'
astra mām eva hanyād dhi hanyāc cāpi balaṁ mama |
Sañjaya berkata: “Sesungguhnya senjata ini akan menimpa diriku sendiri; dan ia juga akan membinasakan bala tenteraku. Maka, wahai Janārdana, aku tidak dapat menggunakan peluru senjata ini buat kali kedua—kerana jika aku berbuat demikian, ia akan memantul kembali kepadaku dan membawa kebinasaan kepada pihakku juga.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, the use of extraordinary weapons is bounded by responsibility: an act that predictably rebounds to destroy oneself and one’s own people should be restrained. Power without discernment becomes self-destructive.
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s hesitation about repeating the use of a powerful astra. The speaker addresses Janārdana, explaining that a second deployment would recoil, killing the user and causing the destruction of his own forces.