Shloka 24
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
वे युद्धकी विचित्र पद्धतियोंके ज्ञाता थे। उन्होंने मायामय अस्त्रका आश्रय लेकर युद्ध आरम्भ किया। चित्रसेनकी उस मायासे समस्त कौरवोंपर मोह छा गया ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | te yuddhake vicitra-paddhatīnāṃ jñātā āsan | te māyāmaya-astram āśritya yuddham ārabdhavantaḥ | citrasenasya tasyā māyayā samasteṣu kauraveṣu mohaḥ samacchāditaḥ || ekaiko hi tadā yodho dhārtarāṣṭrasya bhārata | paryavartata gandharvair daśabhir daśabhiḥ saha ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。彼らは戦のさまざまな奇法に通じ、幻術の武器に拠って戦いを始めた。チトラーセーナのマーヤーのもと、迷妄がクル族すべてを覆った。そのとき、バーラタよ、ドリタラーシュトラ軍の戦士は一人ひとりが身を翻し、十人ずつのガンダルヴァの群れを相手に戦うこととなった。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how māyā (illusion) can overwhelm discernment (viveka) even in the midst of strength and valor; ethical clarity in conflict is fragile when deception and bewilderment dominate, and mere martial prowess is insufficient without steadiness of mind.
Citrasena and the Gandharvas, expert in unusual battle-techniques, initiate combat using magical/illusory weapons. Their māyā casts delusion over the Kauravas, and the fighting becomes chaotic—each Dhārtarāṣṭra warrior ends up battling groups of ten Gandharvas.