Shloka 7
मयस्य प्रतिकृतिः — Maya’s Offer and the Commissioning of the Sabhā
(दानवानां पुरा पार्थ प्रासादा हि मया कृता: | रम्याणि सुखगर्भाणि भोगाढ्यानि सहस्रश: ।। उद्यानानि च रम्याणि सरांसि विविधानि च । विचित्राणि च शस्त्राणि रथा: कामगमास्तथा ।। नगराणि विशालानि साट्टप्राकारतोरणै: । वाहनानि च मुख्यानि विचित्राणि सहस्रश: ।। बिलानि रमणीयानि सुखयुक्तानि वै भृशम् । एतत् कृतं मया सर्व तस्मादिच्छामि फाल्गुन ।।) कुन्तीनन्दन! पूर्वकालमें मैंने दानवोंके बहुत-से महल बनाये हैं। इसके सिवा देखनेमें रमणीय, सुख और भोगसाधनोंसे सम्पन्न अनेक प्रकारके रमणीय उद्यानों, भाँति-भाँतिके सरोवरों, विचित्र अस्त्र-शस्त्रों, इच्छानुसार चलनेवाले रथों, अट्टालिकाओं, चहारदीवारियों और बड़े-बड़े फाटकोंसहित विशाल नगरों, हजारों पी श्रेष्ठ वाहनों तथा बहुत-सी मनोहर एवं अत्यन्त सुखदायक सुरंगोंका मैंने निर्माण है। अत: अर्जुन! मैं आपके लिये भी कुछ बनाना चाहता हूँ। अजुन उवाच प्राणकृच्छाद् विमुक्तं त्वमात्मानं मन््यसे मया । एवं गते न शक्ष्यामि किंचित् कारयितुं त्वया,अर्जुन बोले--मयासुर! तुम मेरे द्वारा अपनेको प्राणसंकटसे मुक्त हुआ मानते हो और इसीलिये कुछ करना चाहते हो। ऐसी दशामें मैं तुमसे कोई काम नहीं करा सकूँगा
dānavānāṃ purā pārtha prāsādā hi mayā kṛtāḥ | ramyāṇi sukhagarbhāṇi bhogāḍhyāni sahasraśaḥ || udyānāni ca ramyāṇi sarāṃsi vividhāni ca | vicitrāṇi ca śastrāṇi rathāḥ kāmagamās tathā || nagarāṇi viśālāni sāṭṭa-prākāra-toraṇaiḥ | vāhanāni ca mukhyāni vicitrāṇi sahasraśaḥ || bilāni ramaṇīyāni sukhayuktāni vai bhṛśam | etat kṛtaṃ mayā sarvaṃ tasmād icchāmi phālguna || arjuna uvāca—prāṇakṛcchād vimuktaṃ tvam ātmānaṃ manyase mayā | evaṃ gate na śakṣyāmi kiñcit kārayituṃ tvayā ||
Mayāsura said: “O Pārtha, long ago I built for the Dānavas palaces by the thousand—delightful to behold, filled with comfort, and rich in pleasures. I also made charming gardens, many kinds of lakes, wondrous weapons, and chariots that move as one wills. I built vast cities furnished with lofty towers, ramparts, and gateways, and thousands of excellent, variegated vehicles. I even fashioned many lovely underground chambers, exceedingly well-appointed with ease. All this I have made; therefore, O Phālguna, I wish to build something for you as well.” Arjuna replied: “Mayāsura, you think yourself freed from mortal peril by me, and therefore you wish to do something in return. But in such a case, I cannot have any work done by you.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights an ethic of disinterested protection and restraint: Arjuna refuses to commission work from Mayāsura as a ‘repayment’ for saving him, implying that aid given in a crisis should not be converted into a transactional claim. It frames virtue as acting without bargaining for return, even when gratitude is offered.
Mayāsura, recalling his extraordinary skill in constructing luxurious palaces, cities, and marvels, offers to build something for Arjuna out of gratitude for being saved from mortal danger. Arjuna responds that since Mayāsura’s offer is motivated by a sense of indebtedness for rescue, he cannot accept or commission any work from him in that spirit.