Shloka 24

मुद्गलोपाख्यानम् — व्रीहिद्रोणदानं, दुर्वाससः परीक्षा, स्वर्गगुणप्रश्नः

Mudgala Episode: Rice-measure Charity, Durvāsas’ Test, Inquiry on Heaven

Devanagari script

स वार्यमाणस्तैरस्त्रैरर्जुनेन महात्मना । गन्धर्वराजो बलवान्‌ माययान्तर्हितस्तदा,महात्मा अर्जुनके उन अस्त्रोंसे रोके जानेपर बलवान गन्धर्वराज मायासे अदृश्य हो गये

Transliteration

sa vāryamāṇas tair astrair arjunena mahātmanā | gandharvarājo balavān māyayāntarhitas tadā ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Aunque fue contenido por aquellos proyectiles del magnánimo Arjuna, el poderoso rey de los Gandharvas desapareció entonces de la vista por medio de su poder mágico—mostrando que la destreza no reside solo en las armas, sino también en el dominio de la ilusión y la estrategia.

Word by Word

सःhe

वार्यमाणःbeing restrained/warded off

तैःby those

अस्त्रैःby weapons/missiles

अर्जुनेनby Arjuna

महात्मनाby the great-souled (one)

गन्धर्वराजःthe king of the Gandharvas

बलवान्mighty/strong

माययाby illusion/magic

अन्तर्हितःhidden, disappeared

तदाthen

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

Gandharva-rāja (king of the Gandharvas)

astra (divine missiles/weapons)

māyā (illusion/magic)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power in epic warfare is multidimensional: even when martial force (astras) is met with equal or superior skill, a combatant may rely on māyā—concealment, deception, and tactical withdrawal. The verse highlights prudence and adaptability alongside valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna counters and restrains the Gandharva king with his missiles. Unable to press the fight directly, the powerful Gandharva king uses magical illusion to become invisible and disappear from view.