Shloka 16
Book 3, Āraṇyaka-parva — Adhyāya 19: Pradyumna’s Reproach of Withdrawal and the Ethics of Kṣātra Reputation
छिन्नान् दृष्टवा तु तान् बाणान प्रद्युम्नेन च सौभराट् | आसुरीं दारुणीं मायामास्थाय व्यसृजच्छरान्,महाबाहो! परंतु दारुककुमारने वहाँ बाणोंके वेगपूर्वक प्रहारकी कोई चिन्ता न करते हुए शाल्वकी सेनाको अपसव्य (दाहिने) करते हुए ही रथको आगे बढ़ाया। वीरवर! तब सौभराज शाल्वने पुनः मेरे पुत्र रुक्मिणीनन्दन प्रद्युम्मपर अनेक प्रकारके बाण चलाये। शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले रुक्मिणीनन्दन प्रद्युम्म अपने हाथोंकी फुर्ती दिखाते हुए शाल्वके बाणोंको अपने पास आनेसे पहले ही तीक्ष्ण बाणोंसे मुसकराकर काट देते थे। प्रद्युम्नके द्वारा अपने बाणोंको छिन्न-भिन्न होते देख सौभराजने भयंकर आसुरी मायाका सहारा लेकर बहुत-से बाण बरसाये
chinnān dṛṣṭvā tu tān bāṇān pradyumnena ca saubharāṭ | āsurīṁ dāruṇīṁ māyām āsthāya vyasṛjac charān mahābāho |
Seeing his arrows being cut to pieces by Pradyumna, the lord of Saubha (Śālva) resorted to a fierce, demonic illusion and, O mighty-armed one, unleashed a fresh volley of missiles. The episode underscores a recurring ethical contrast in battle: true martial excellence lies in skill, steadiness, and clarity, while the desperate turn to deceptive powers arises when straightforward prowess fails.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
When direct strength and skill are checked, a combatant may turn to deception (māyā). The passage implicitly values steadiness and genuine prowess over reliance on frightening, delusive tactics born of frustration.
Śālva, seeing Pradyumna cut down his incoming arrows, adopts a dreadful āsurī māyā and releases a renewed shower of missiles, escalating the battle through magical deception.