Shloka 10
तां च मायां तदा दृष्टवा घोरां नागेन वज्चित: । द्विधा त्रिधा च खगतान् प्राणिन: पाण्डवो5च्छिनत्,तब उस भयानक मायाको देखकर नागसे ठगे गये पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनने आकाशमें उड़नेवाले प्राणियोंके दो-दो, तीन-तीन टुकड़े कर डाले
tāṃ ca māyāṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā ghorāṃ nāgena vañcitaḥ | dvidhā tridhā ca khagatān prāṇinaḥ pāṇḍavo 'cchinat ||
Dijo Vaiśaṃpāyana: Al ver entonces aquella ilusión terrible, el Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), engañado por la astucia de la serpiente, abatió a las criaturas que volaban en el cielo, partiéndolas en dos e incluso en tres.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of māyā (delusion): when perception is distorted by deception, even a righteous hero may act with excessive force. It implicitly values discernment and restraint—testing appearances before unleashing violence.
A serpent (Nāga) produces a terrifying illusion. Arjuna, momentarily deceived, reacts by attacking the airborne beings he sees, cutting the flying creatures into two or three pieces.