Shloka 3
Koṭikāśya’s Inquiry to the Radiant Woman near the Kadamba (कोटिकाश्यप्रश्नः)
मायाधिकास्त्वयुध्यन्त यदा शूरा वियद्वता: । तदा नो न सम॑ युद्धमभवत् खेचरै: सह
māyādhikās tvayudhyanta yadā śūrā viyadvatāḥ | tadā no na samaṁ yuddham abhavat khecaraiḥ saha ||
যেতিয়া মায়াবলত আমাতকৈ অধিক শক্তিশালী সেই বীৰসকলে আকাশত বিচৰণ কৰি কৰি যুদ্ধ কৰিবলৈ ধৰিলে, তেতিয়া আকাশচাৰী প্ৰতিপক্ষৰ সৈতে আমাৰ যুদ্ধ আর সমান ৰ’ল নাছিল; ন্যায়সঙ্গত সমতাত আমি তেওঁলোকক মোকাবিলা কৰিব নোৱাৰিলোঁ।
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension in warfare: when one side employs extraordinary powers (māyā) and aerial mobility, the contest ceases to be ‘sama’ (equal/fair). It reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring concern with how advantage, deception, or asymmetry complicate kṣatriya ideals of a balanced fight.
Duryodhana is describing a situation in which heroic opponents, empowered by māyā and moving through the sky, engage in combat. He complains that, under these conditions, his side cannot fight on equal terms against such khecaras (sky-ranging fighters/beings).