Shloka 16
कर्णभीमसमागमः | Karṇa–Bhīma Encounter
मायाशतानि कुर्वाणो हतो मायापुरस्कृत: । “महाबाहो! यह तो तुमने अपनी आँखों देखा था कि किस प्रकार उस दिन रातमें सैकड़ों मायाओंका प्रयोग करनेवाला मायावी घटोत्कच कर्णके हाथसे मारा गया ॥।| १५६ || न चातिष्ठत बीभत्सु: प्रत्यनीके कथंचन
sañjaya uvāca |
māyāśatāni kurvāṇo hato māyāpuraskṛtaḥ |
na cātiṣṭhata bībhatsuḥ praty-anīke kathaṃcana ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—“শত শত মায়া রচনা করা সেই মায়াবী, যার মায়াই সম্মুখে ছিল, নিহত হল। আর বীভৎসু অর্জুনও কোনোভাবেই প্রতিপক্ষ সেনার সামনে স্থির থাকতে পারল না।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts reliance on māyā (deceptive power) with the hard realities of battle: even extraordinary magical prowess can be overcome, and warriors must still face the ethical and strategic consequences of war—steadfastness, timing, and the limits of one’s chosen means.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the illusion-wielding Ghaṭotkaca, who had been unleashing many magical attacks, was slain by Karna; he further notes that Arjuna (called Bībhatsu) did not hold his ground against the opposing forces.