Shloka 41

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ

Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation

Devanagari script

मायां च राक्षसीं कृत्वा शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्‌ । तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम शैनेयस्य पराक्रमम्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ उसने राक्षसी माया फैलाकर उनके ऊपर बाणोंकी वर्षा आरम्भ की। उस समय हमने सात्यकिका अद्भुत पराक्रम देखा

Transliteration

māyāṃ ca rākṣasīṃ kṛtvā śaravarṣair avākirat | tatrādbhūtam apaśyāma śaineyasya parākramam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having conjured a rākṣasa-like illusion, he showered them with volleys of arrows. There we witnessed the astonishing valor of Śaineya (Sātyaki).

Word by Word

• मायाम्: illusion, magical art
• मायाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• राक्षसीम्: demonic, of a rakshasi
• राक्षसीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made/created
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• शरवर्षैः: with showers of arrows
• शरवर्षैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अवाकिरत्: he showered, he covered (with)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√कॄ (अवकिरति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्र: there, then
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful, marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपश्याम: we saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (पश्यति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), First, Plural, Parasmaipada

• शैनेयस्य: of Śaineya (Sātyaki)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैनेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पराक्रमम्: valor, prowess
• पराक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śaineya (Sātyaki)
• rākṣasī māyā (demonic illusion)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when warfare employs deceptive tactics (māyā), true excellence is shown through steady courage, alertness, and disciplined skill; the verse highlights how virtue in action is tested under confusion and fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

A combatant creates a terrifying, rākṣasa-like illusion and attacks with a rain of arrows; in that crisis, Sañjaya reports witnessing Sātyaki’s extraordinary prowess as he confronts the situation.