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 |
अस्त्रमिदं मामेव हन्याद् बलं च मम नाशयेत्। तस्मात् हे जनार्दन, द्वितीयं न शक्नोम्येतत् प्रयोक्तुम्; प्रयुक्ते हि मयि प्रत्यावर्त्य स्वपक्षं च विनाशयेत्।
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.