Shloka 11
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
रथाभ्यां रथिनौ श्रेष्ठी यथा वै देवदानवौ । फिर तो वे मनुष्य तथा राक्षस दोनों वीर तुरंत ही युद्धस्थलमें एक-दूसरेसे भिड़ गये। दोनों ही रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ थे, अतः देवता और दानवकी भाँति रथोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेका सामना करने लगे ।।
sañjaya uvāca | rathābhyāṃ rathinau śreṣṭhī yathā vai devadānavau | māyāvī rākṣasaśreṣṭho divyāstrajñaiś ca phālguniḥ ||
ಆಮೇಲೆ ಆ ಇಬ್ಬರು ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ರಥಿಗಳು—ಮನುಷ್ಯನೂ ರಾಕ್ಷಸನೂ—ದೇವ ಮತ್ತು ದಾನವ ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಎದುರಾದಂತೆ ರಥಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಎದುರಿಸಿದರು. ರಾಕ್ಷಸಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಅಲಂಬುಷನು ಮಾಯಾವಿ; ಫಾಲ್ಗುನಿಯ ಪುತ್ರ ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯು ದಿವ್ಯಾಸ್ತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಪುಣನು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two kinds of power in war: māyā (deceptive illusion) and divyāstra-jñāna (disciplined, sanctioned martial knowledge). Ethically, it highlights that prowess is not merely force but also the manner of fighting—skill aligned with rightful training and duty is set against trickery and delusion.
Sanjaya describes a chariot-to-chariot engagement: the Rakshasa Alambusha, famed for illusion, confronts Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, who is trained in celestial weapons. They meet like a deva and a dānava in direct combat, signaling an intense duel between two elite warriors.