Shloka 118

Devanagari script

न माया हीन्द्रजालं वा कुहका वापि भीषणा । आत्तशस्त्रस्य संग्रामे वहन्ति प्रतिगर्जना:,“माया, इन्द्रजाल अथवा भयानक छलना संग्रामभूमिमें हथियार उठाये हुए वीरके क्रोध और सिंहनादको ही बढ़ाती हैं (उसे भयभीत नहीं कर सकती हैं)

Transliteration

na māyā hīndrajālaṃ vā kuhakā vāpi bhīṣaṇā | āttaśastrasya saṅgrāme vahanti pratigarjanāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Neither sorcery nor Indra’s illusion, nor even terrifying deception, can unnerve a warrior who has taken up his weapons in battle; such tricks only fan his wrath and intensify his lion-like roar of defiance.”

Word by Word

नnot

मायाillusion, magic

हिindeed, for

इन्द्रजालम्magic trick, conjuring

वाor

कुहकाःdeceptions, tricks

वाor

अपिalso, even

भीषणाःterrible, frightening

आत्तशस्त्रस्यof one who has taken up weapons

संग्रामेin battle

वहन्तिcarry, bear, bring about

प्रतिगर्जनाःroars, counter-roars (battle-cries)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

स

संजय (Sañjaya)

इ

इन्द्रजाल (Indrajāla)

श

शस्त्र (weapons)

स

संग्राम (battle)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Deceptive displays—magic, illusion, or frightening tricks—cannot shake a truly resolute, duty-bound warrior; instead of producing fear, they can strengthen his determination and fearless response.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the mindset of an armed fighter on the battlefield, emphasizing that attempts to intimidate through illusion or deceit fail against a steadfast combatant and only provoke a stronger, defiant reaction.