Shloka 43
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
तदस्त्रं भस्मसात् कृत्वा मायां तां राक्षसीं तदा,उस समय उस दिव्यास्त्रने उस राक्षसी मायाको तत्काल भस्म करके अलम्बुषके ऊपर सब ओरसे दूसरे-दूसरे बाणोंकी उसी प्रकार वर्षा आरम्भ की, जैसे वर्षा-ऋतुमें मेघ पर्वतपर जलकी धाराएँ गिराता है
sañjaya uvāca | tad astraṁ bhasmasāt kṛtvā māyāṁ tāṁ rākṣasīṁ tadā, alambuṣasyopari sarvataḥ punar anyair anyair bāṇair evaṁ vṛṣṭim ārabhata yathā varṣā-ṛtau meghaḥ parvate jaladhārāḥ pātayati |
Sañjaya said: Having reduced that rākṣasa-illusion to ashes with his divine missile, he at once began to shower Alambuṣa from every side with ever-new volleys of arrows—like a monsoon cloud pouring streams of water upon a mountain.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts deceptive power (rākṣasī māyā) with disciplined, rightful strength: when illusion is dispelled by a higher, well-directed means (astra), one should act with steadiness and clarity rather than be drawn into confusion. It affirms that dharmic resolve in conflict aims to neutralize deception and restore order.
Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where a divine missile annihilates a demonic illusion, after which Alambuṣa is immediately overwhelmed by a dense, all-sided barrage of arrows, compared to monsoon clouds pouring water on a mountain.