Shloka 96
कर्णभीमसेनयुद्धम् | Karṇa–Bhīmasena Engagement
Chapter 111
अलम्बुषं राक्षसेन्द्रं दृष्टवाक्रुध्यन्त पाण्डवा: | मायायुद्धविशारद राक्षसराज अलम्बुषको इस प्रकार युद्ध करते देख समस्त पाण्डव कुपित हो उठे
alambuṣaṃ rākṣasendraṃ dṛṣṭvā kruddhyanta pāṇḍavāḥ | māyāyuddhaviśāradaṃ rākṣasarājam alambuṣam ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Alambuṣa, the lord of the Rākṣasas—skilled in warfare by illusion—fighting in that manner, all the Pāṇḍavas were stirred to anger. The verse highlights how deceptive, māyā-driven combat provokes righteous indignation in those committed to straightforward kṣatriya conduct on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts straightforward, dharma-aligned combat with māyā (deceptive) warfare: when battle is distorted by illusion and trickery, it naturally provokes moral outrage in those who value righteous conduct, reminding the listener that means matter as much as ends.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍavas witness Alambuṣa, a powerful Rākṣasa leader adept in illusory tactics, fighting on the battlefield; seeing his deceptive mode of combat, they become collectively enraged.