Shloka 41

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ

Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation

Devanagari script

मायां च राक्षसीं कृत्वा शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्‌ । तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम शैनेयस्य पराक्रमम्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ उसने राक्षसी माया फैलाकर उनके ऊपर बाणोंकी वर्षा आरम्भ की। उस समय हमने सात्यकिका अद्भुत पराक्रम देखा

Transliteration

māyāṃ ca rākṣasīṃ kṛtvā śaravarṣair avākirat | tatrādbhūtam apaśyāma śaineyasya parākramam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having conjured a rākṣasa-like illusion, he showered them with volleys of arrows. There we witnessed the astonishing valor of Śaineya (Sātyaki)—a display of martial excellence that, even amid deceptive warfare, revealed steadfast courage and skill.

Word by Word

• मायाम्: illusion, magical art
• मायाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• राक्षसीम्: demonic, of a rakshasi
• राक्षसीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made/created
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• शरवर्षैः: with showers of arrows
• शरवर्षैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अवाकिरत्: he showered, he covered (with)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√कॄ (अवकिरति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्र: there, then
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful, marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपश्याम: we saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (पश्यति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), First, Plural, Parasmaipada

• शैनेयस्य: of Śaineya (Sātyaki)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैनेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पराक्रमम्: valor, prowess
• पराक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śaineya (Sātyaki)
• rākṣasī māyā (demonic illusion)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when warfare employs deceptive tactics (māyā), true excellence is shown through steady courage, alertness, and disciplined skill; the verse highlights how virtue in action is tested under confusion and fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

A combatant creates a terrifying, rākṣasa-like illusion and attacks with a rain of arrows; in that crisis, Sañjaya reports witnessing Sātyaki’s extraordinary prowess as he confronts the situation.