Shloka 29
विशेषयन्तावन्योन्यं मायाभिरतिमायिनौ । युयुधाते महावीर्याविन्द्रवरोचनाविव
viśeṣayantāv anyonyaṁ māyābhir atimāyinau | yuyudhāte mahāvīryāv indravarocanāv iva ||
Sañjaya dit : Ces deux guerriers d’une ruse extrême, cherchant chacun à surpasser l’autre par des illusions et des stratagèmes, poursuivirent le combat—tous deux d’une grande puissance—resplendissant comme Indra dans sa splendeur. Le vers montre que, dans la fureur de la guerre, l’éclat et la force peuvent s’allier à la tromperie, faisant du champ de bataille un concours de ruse autant que de courage.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that warfare often becomes a contest not only of strength and valor but also of cunning and deceptive tactics (māyā). It invites ethical reflection: brilliance and heroism can be morally ambiguous when joined to illusion and stratagem.
Sañjaya describes two powerful combatants locked in battle, each attempting to surpass the other through clever devices and illusory maneuvers, their prowess and radiance compared to Indra’s splendor.