Shloka 25

Divyāstrāṇāṃ Pradarśana-nivāraṇa

Display of Divine Weapons and Its Prohibition

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वाहमसृजमस्त्रमायां नराधिप । मोहनीं सर्वभूतानां हिताय त्रिदिवौकसाम्‌,नरेश्वर! ऐसा कहकर मैंने देवताओंके हितके लिये अस्त्रसम्बन्धिनी मायाकी सृष्टि की, जो समस्त प्राणियोंको मोहमें डालनेवाली थी

Transliteration

evam uktvāham asṛjam astramāyāṃ narādhipa | mohanīṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ hitāya tridivaukasām ||

Translation

Having spoken thus, O king, I brought forth an illusory power connected with a weapon—an enchantment that deludes all beings—doing so for the welfare of the dwellers of heaven.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्त्वाhaving said

अहम्I

असृजम्created / produced

अस्त्रम्weapon (missile)

मायाम्illusion / magical power

नराधिपO lord of men (king)

मोहनीम्bewildering / deluding

सर्वभूतानाम्of all beings

हितायfor the benefit

त्रिदिवौकसाम्of the dwellers in heaven (gods)

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

narādhipa (a king addressed)

tridivaukasaḥ (the gods/dwellers of heaven)

astra (weapon)

astramāyā (weapon-illusion)

mohanī māyā (deluding enchantment)

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 presents the ethical idea that extraordinary powers (like māyā linked to an astra) may be employed as a protective measure when the intention is welfare (hita) rather than selfish harm—highlighting motive and responsibility in the use of force or deception.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna, addressing a king, says that after making a statement he generated a weapon-associated illusion—an enchantment that could delude all beings—specifically to secure the welfare of the heavenly beings (the gods).