Shloka 20

मैत्रेयागमनम् — The Arrival of Maitreya and the Admonition to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

पश्यतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां नाशयामास वीर्यवान्‌ । स नष्टमायो5तिबल: क्रोधविस्फारितेक्षण:

Transliteration

paśyatāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ nāśayāmāsa vīryavān | sa naṣṭamāyo 'tibalaḥ krodhavisphāritekṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Before the very eyes of the sons of Pāṇḍu, the mighty one wrought destruction. His power of illusion spent, yet possessed of extraordinary strength, he stared with eyes widened by wrath—an image of uncontrolled anger turning strength into ruin.

Word by Word

पश्यताम्of (those) watching / while (they) watched

पाण्डु-पुत्राणाम्of the sons of Pāṇḍu (the Pāṇḍavas)

नाशयामासdestroyed

वीर्यवान्powerful, valiant

सःhe

नष्ट-मायःwhose illusion/magic was lost (i.e., deprived of his māyā)

अति-बलःexceedingly strong

क्रोध-विस्फारित-ईक्षणःwhose eyes were widened by anger

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

प

पाण्डुपुत्राः (Pāṇḍuputrāḥ / the Pāṇḍavas)

व

विदुर (Vidura, as speaker)

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?

The verse highlights how unchecked anger (krodha) can dominate even the strong and valiant, turning prowess into destructive action; ethical strength in the Mahābhārata is repeatedly tied to self-mastery rather than mere physical power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura describes a powerful figure who, in full view of the Pāṇḍavas, causes destruction; his deceptive power or stratagem (māyā) is gone, yet he remains immensely strong, glaring with rage—emphasizing the scene’s intensity and moral warning.