Shloka 323
हित्वा नवगतीर्दुष्टाः स बाणानाहवे5त्यजत् | 'भीष्मजी युद्धस्थलमें दोषयुक्त आविद्ध आदि नौ गतियोंको छोड़कर केवल दसवीं गतिसे बाण छोड़ते थे। वे बाण पाण्डवपक्षके घोड़ों, रथों और हाथियोंका संहार करने लगे
hitvā navagatīr duṣṭāḥ sa bāṇān āhave 'tyajat |
Sañjaya disse: Abandonando os nove modos falhos do voo do projétil, ele disparou as flechas na batalha apenas segundo a décima trajetória, sem defeito. Então aqueles dardos começaram a dizimar os cavalos, os carros e os elefantes do lado dos Pāṇḍava, mostrando como o domínio técnico da guerra, quando unido à ira, se torna uma força de destruição abrangente.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how disciplined technique and discernment (rejecting “flawed” methods and choosing the correct one) can greatly amplify effectiveness; ethically, it also warns that excellence in skill, when applied in war, can intensify harm and thus demands responsibility and restraint.
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s superior archery: he abandons nine defective trajectories and shoots using a tenth, effective mode; as a result, the opposing (Pandava) forces’ key war-assets—horses, chariots, and elephants—are being systematically destroyed (as elaborated in the accompanying gloss).