Shloka 87
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
ततो मायाधरं द्रौणिर्घटोत्कचसुतं दिवि
tato māyādharaṃ drauṇir ghaṭotkacasutaṃ divi
Sañjaya berkata: Maka putra Droṇa (Aśvatthāman) melihat di angkasa putra Ghaṭotkaca yang menguasai māyā—pertanda bahwa perang telah bergeser menjadi adu daya adikodrati dan tandingannya, ketika keperkasaan diukur bukan hanya oleh senjata, melainkan juga oleh penguasaan tipu-daya yang mengguncang tatanan dharma.
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare can devolve into contests of deception and extraordinary power (māyā), raising ethical tension: victory pursued through illusion may destabilize the expected norms of fair combat, even when framed within kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) confronts or observes the son of Ghaṭotkaca moving in the sky and wielding māyā, indicating an aerial, supernatural phase of battle between elite champions.