Shloka 716
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
इरावानपि संक्रुद्धों मायां स्रष्टूं प्रचक्रमे । युद्धके मुहानेपर समस्त योद्धाओंके देखते-देखते वह इरावान्को पकड़ना चाहता था। उस दुरात्मा राक्षसकी वैसी माया देखकर क्रोधमें भरे हुए इरावानने भी मायाका प्रयोग आरम्भ किया
sañjaya uvāca | irāvān api saṅkruddho māyāṃ sraṣṭuṃ pracakrame |
Dijo Sañjaya: Iraván también, encendido de ira, se dispuso a desplegar su propio poder de ilusión. Al ver en el campo de batalla la estratagema engañosa del rākṣasa malvado—intentada a plena vista de los guerreros congregados, que buscaba apresar a Iraván—éste, colmado de furia, respondió con māyā contra māyā, oponiendo a la traición una réplica táctica acorde con las exigencias de la guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a wartime ethical tension: when confronted with deceit and harmful stratagems, a warrior may respond with proportionate counter-strategy to protect allies and uphold battlefield duty. It frames anger as a catalyst for action, yet implies that responses are shaped by the opponent’s conduct and the harsh norms of war.
A rākṣasa attempts to seize Iravan through magical deception in front of the gathered fighters. Witnessing this, Iravan becomes furious and begins to employ his own māyā, initiating a contest of illusions amid the ongoing battle.