Shloka 23
Uttara–Arjuna Saṃvāda and the Re-Arming of Gāṇḍīva
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 40
मम वा बाहुविक्षेपं शत्रूनिह विजेष्यत: । “उत्तर! मेरी आज्ञासे तुम शीघ्र इस वृक्षपर चढ़कर वहाँ रखे हुए धनुष उतारो, क्योंकि तुम्हारे ये धनुष मेरे बाहुबलको नहीं सह सकेंगे, कोई भारी कार्य-भार नहीं उठा सकेंगे अथवा बड़े-बड़े गजराजोंका नाश करनेमें भी ये काम न दे सकेंगे। इतना ही नहीं, यहाँ शत्रुओंपर विजय पानेके लिये युद्ध करते समय ये मेरे बाहुविक्षेपको भी नहीं सँभाल सकेंगे
mama vā bāhu-vikṣepaṁ śatrūn iha vijeṣyataḥ |
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—ఇక్కడ శత్రువులను జయించుచు నేను యుద్ధము చేయునప్పుడు, ఇవి నా భుజబలపు వేగమును భరించలేవు.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power in warfare is not mere aggression; it must match the duty at hand. The verse highlights that righteous victory requires adequate means and disciplined strength—ordinary tools cannot accomplish extraordinary, duty-bound tasks.
In the Virāṭa episode leading to battle, the speaker emphasizes that the coming fight against enemies demands exceptional martial force; the weapons to be used must be capable of withstanding the warrior’s arm-strength while he proceeds to conquer.