Shloka 22
मुद्गलोपाख्यानम् — व्रीहिद्रोणदानं, दुर्वाससः परीक्षा, स्वर्गगुणप्रश्नः
Mudgala Episode: Rice-measure Charity, Durvāsas’ Test, Inquiry on Heaven
स गदां बहुधा दृष्ट्वा कुत्तां बाणैस्तरस्विना । संवृत्य विद्यया55त्मानं योधयामास पाण्डवम्,वेगशाली अर्जुनके बाणोंसे अपनी गदाके अनेक टुकड़े हुए देख चित्रसेन अन्तर्धानविद्याद्वार अपने आपको छिपाकर उन पाण्डुकुमारके साथ युद्ध करने लगे
sa gadāṃ bahudhā dṛṣṭvā kṛttāṃ bāṇais tarasvinā | saṃvṛtya vidyayātmānaṃ yodhayāmāsa pāṇḍavam ||
فلما رأى تشيتراسينا هراوته وقد تكسّرت إلى شظايا كثيرة بسِهامٍ سريعةٍ قوية، ستر نفسه بقدرةِ الاختفاء، وواصل القتال مع الباندَفي (أرجونا).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse implicitly contrasts straightforward martial excellence with resorting to concealment through supernatural means. It invites reflection on the ethics of combat—whether victory pursued through hidden or deceptive tactics aligns with the ideals of honorable kṣatriya warfare.
Citraseṇa sees his mace broken into many fragments by Arjuna’s swift arrows. In response, he uses a vidyā to hide himself (become concealed/invisible) and continues fighting Arjuna.