Shloka 226

Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

प्रादुश्षक्रे महामायां तामसीं परतापनाम्‌ | फिर समरांगणमें शत्रुसे पीड़ित एवं विमुख हुए राक्षसने शत्रुओंको तपानेवाली अपनी (अन्धकारमयी) तामसी महामाया प्रकट की

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | prāduścakre mahāmāyāṃ tāmasīṃ paratāpanām |

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Le rākṣasa, durement pressé par l’ennemi et contraint de se détourner sur le champ de bataille, déploya sa grande illusion—sombre, tamasique et tourmentant les adversaires—cherchant à les égarer plutôt qu’à les affronter par une vaillance droite et ouverte.

Word by Word

• प्रादुः: manifestly, forth
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रादुस्
• Form: Avyaya

• चक्रे: made, brought about, manifested
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd person, singular, Parasmaipada

• महामायाम्: great illusion (magic power)
• महामायाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामाया
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

• तामसीम्: dark, of darkness
• तामसीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामसी
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

• परतापनाम्: tormenting enemies
• परतापनाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परतापना
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• mahāmāyā (tāmasī)
• rākṣasa (unnamed, implied)
• enemies/foes (śatru, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts open, dharmic combat with tamasic deception: when overwhelmed, the rākṣasa resorts to dark illusion to harm and confuse foes, highlighting how tamas (delusion/obscurity) can replace straightforward courage and clarity in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that, on the battlefield, a rākṣasa who has been harried by enemies and has turned away manifests a powerful, darkness-based magical illusion intended to torment and disorient the opposing side.