Adhyāya 41 — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Briefing and the Renewal of the Great Engagement
अस्त्र॑ ततो<न्यत् प्रतिपन्नमद्य येन क्षेप्स्थे समरे शत्रुपूगान् । प्रतापिनं बलवन्तं कृतास्त्रं तमुग्रधन्चानममितौजसं च
astra tato 'nyat pratipannam adya yena kṣepsyathe samare śatru-pūgān | pratāpinaṃ balavantaṃ kṛtāstraṃ tam ugra-dhanvānam amitaujasaṃ ca ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Kini engkau telah mengambil senjata yang lain—dengannya engkau berniat, di tengah-tengah pertempuran, menumbangkan barisan musuh. Pahlawan itu gagah dan kuat, mahir sepenuhnya dalam ilmu persenjataan, seorang pemanah yang garang, dan bertenaga tiada terukur.”
संजय उवाच
The verse foregrounds the ethical tension of war: mastery of weapons and heroic energy are praised, yet they are directed toward the destruction of enemy formations. It highlights how martial excellence, when joined to intent in battle, becomes a decisive moral and narrative force.
Sanjaya reports that a warrior has now taken up a different weapon and is preparing to use it to strike the enemy ranks in the ongoing battle, emphasizing the fighter’s strength, training, and fearsome archery.