Shloka 5
कुन्तीगर्भगोपनम् तथा मञ्जूषाप्रवाहः
Kuntī’s concealed childbirth and the river-borne casket
ततः स सैन्यमालोक्य वध्यमानमरातिभि: । मायावी चासृजन्मायां रावणो राक्षसाधिप:,अपनी सेनाको शशत्रुओंद्वारा मारी जाती देख मायावी राक्षसराज रावणने माया प्रकट की
tataḥ sa sainyam ālokya vadhyamānam arātibhiḥ | māyāvī cāsṛjan māyāṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ ||
ثمّ لما رأى جيشَه يُفتَك به على أيدي الأعداء، أطلق رافَنا—سيّدُ الرّاكشَسَة الماكر—المَايَا، أي سِحرَ الوهم والخداع.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral contrast: when faced with defeat, an adharma-aligned figure resorts to māyā (deceptive illusion) rather than righteous conduct. It cautions that victory pursued through deceit and delusion reflects inner unrighteousness, even if it appears effective in the moment.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a battle scene: Rāvaṇa sees his troops being slain by enemies, and in response he manifests an illusion—an act of magical deception intended to turn the tide of combat.