Shloka 37
Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival
स्थलेऽभ्यगृह्णाद् वस्त्रान्तं जलं मत्वा स्थलेऽपतत् । जले च स्थलवद् भ्रान्त्या मयमायाविमोहित: ॥ ३७ ॥
sthale ’bhyagṛhṇād vastrāntaṁ jalaṁ matvā sthale ’patat jale ca sthala-vad bhrāntyā maya-māyā-vimohitaḥ
Troublé par les illusions nées de la magie de Maya Dānava, Duryodhana prit le sol ferme pour de l’eau et releva le bord de son vêtement; ailleurs, il tomba dans l’eau, la croyant un sol solide.
FAQs
This verse shows how māyā can invert perception—making land seem like water and water seem like land—illustrating the bewildering power of illusion when one is not sheltered in clear spiritual understanding.
In the narrative of the Sudharmā hall at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya, Maya’s wondrous design creates deceptive appearances; Śukadeva highlights this to show how easily pride and ordinary vision can be confounded.
Like mistaking land and water, we often misread reality through ego and appearances; cultivating humility, discernment, and devotion helps one avoid being driven by misleading perceptions.