Shloka 16
धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama
शतानि पज्च चैवेषून् यो गृह्नन् नैव दृश्यते । निमेषान्तरमात्रेण मुछ्चन् दूरं च पातयन्
śatāni pañca caiveṣūn yo gṛhṇan naiva dṛśyate | nimeṣāntaramātreṇa muñcan dūraṃ ca pātayan ||
வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்—ஐந்நூறு அம்புகளை எடுத்துக்கொண்டபோதும் எவர்க்கும் காணப்படாதவன்; ஒரு கண்சிமிட்டும் நேரத்திற்குள் அவற்றை விடுத்து, தொலை இலக்குகளிலும் வீழச் செய்பவன்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of consummate skill (śaurya and kauśala) in a kṣatriya, suggesting that extraordinary power becomes ethically meaningful when aligned with dharma—here, the looming war is framed as one where such prowess will decisively protect a righteous cause.
Vaiśampāyana describes a warrior—contextually Arjuna—whose archery is so swift that he can seize and release five hundred arrows within a blink, striking distant targets while remaining visually imperceptible, emphasizing his terrifying effectiveness in the coming battle.