Shloka 20
सो5भिवीक्ष्य हतां मायां मायावी माययैव हि । अभ्मवर्ष सुतुमुलं विससर्ज घटोत्कचे,अपनी मायाको मायासे ही नष्ट हुई देखकर मायावी अलायुध घटोत्कचपर पत्थरोंकी भयंकर वर्षा करने लगा
so 'bhivīkṣya hatāṃ māyāṃ māyāvī māyayāiva hi | aśmavarṣaṃ sutumulaṃ visasarja ghaṭotkace ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing that his own illusion had been destroyed by illusion itself, the sorcerer Alāyudha—skilled in deceptive arts—unleashed upon Ghaṭotkaca a terrifying storm of stones. In the brutal ethics of war, counter-magic answers magic, and violence escalates when pride in one’s power is thwarted.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how reliance on deceptive power (māyā) invites an arms-race of counter-deception: when one’s stratagem is neutralized, anger and wounded pride can drive escalation into harsher violence. It implicitly cautions that victory sought through illusion often breeds further cruelty rather than restraint.
Alāyudha, a master of magical deception, sees his illusion destroyed by an opposing illusion. In response, he attacks Ghaṭotkaca by unleashing a fierce barrage—described as a storm of stones—intensifying the combat.