Shloka 56
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
अदृश्यत निमेषार्धाद् घोररूपं समास्थित: । ऐरावणं समारूढ: स वै मायाकृतं स्वयम्,(कैलासगिरिसंकाशं वज्रपाणिरिवा भ्ययात् ।) फिर उसने कायरोंका भय बढ़ानेवाली अत्यन्त दारुण माया प्रकट की। वह आधे निमेषमें ही भयंकर रूप धारण करके दृष्टिगोचर हुआ। घटोत्कच अपनी ही मायाद्वारा निर्मित कैलासपर्वतके समान श्वेत वर्णवाले ऐरावत हाथीपर बैठकर वज्रधारी इन्द्रके समान वहाँ आया था
sañjaya uvāca | adṛśyata nimeṣārdhād ghorarūpaṃ samāsthitaḥ | airāvaṇaṃ samārūḍhaḥ sa vai māyākṛtaṃ svayam (kailāsagiri-saṅkāśaṃ vajrapāṇir ivābhyayāt) ||
Sañjaya said: In less than half a blink, he became visible, having assumed a terrifying form. Mounted upon Airāvata—conjured by his own sorcery—he advanced like Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, appearing as vast and radiant as Mount Kailāsa. By this dreadful illusion he sought to magnify fear in the faint-hearted amid the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can be deliberately amplified through spectacle and illusion in war; ethically, it contrasts inner steadiness and courage with panic in the face of terrifying appearances, reminding that perception can be manipulated and that valor requires discernment.
Sañjaya describes Ghaṭotkaca suddenly manifesting a terrifying form and advancing on a magically created Airāvata, resembling Indra with the thunderbolt, using māyā to intimidate and unsettle the opposing warriors.