Shloka 104
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
निशाम्य निहतां मायां द्रौणिना रणमानिना । घटोत्कचस्ततो मायां ससर्जान्तर्हित: पुन:,युद्धाभिमानी अश्व॒त्थामाके द्वारा अपनी माया नष्ट हुई देख घटोत्कचने अदृश्य होकर पुनः दूसरी मायाकी सृष्टि की
niśāmya nihatāṃ māyāṃ drauṇinā raṇamāninā | ghaṭotkacas tato māyāṃ sasarjāntarhitaḥ punaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing that his illusion had been destroyed by Droṇa’s son—who fought with proud confidence in battle—Ghaṭotkaca vanished from sight and again projected another illusion.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how reliance on deception and counter-deception in war intensifies hostility and disorder. Even when a stratagem is neutralized, the impulse to regain advantage can lead to renewed, more complex artifices—showing the ethical instability of warfare when victory becomes the overriding aim.
Aśvatthāman has destroyed a magical illusion previously deployed by Ghaṭotkaca. In response, Ghaṭotkaca disappears from view and produces another illusion, continuing the cycle of supernatural tactics on the battlefield.