Shloka 21
Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara
स च मायां समाश्रित्य दैतेयीं मयदर्शितम् । मुमुचेऽस्त्रमयं वर्षं कार्ष्णौ वैहायसोऽसुर: ॥ २१ ॥
sa ca māyāṁ samāśritya daiteyīṁ maya-darśitam mumuce ’stra-mayaṁ varṣaṁ kārṣṇau vaihāyaso ’suraḥ
അസുരനായ ശംബരൻ മയദാനവൻ പഠിപ്പിച്ച ദൈത്യമായയെ ആശ്രയിച്ച് ആകാശത്തിൽ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു; കൃഷ്ണപുത്രന്റെ മേൽ ആയുധവർഷം ചൊരിഞ്ഞു।
FAQs
This verse shows an asura relying on Daitya-māyā—taught by Maya Dānava—to create an overwhelming ‘shower of weapons,’ illustrating how demonic power often operates through illusion and intimidation rather than devotion and truth.
In the narrative of Canto 10, Śambara opposes Kṛṣṇa’s lineage and seeks to destroy Pradyumna; resorting to sorcery and weapon-rain is his attempt to overpower the Lord’s son through fearsome, extraordinary force.
The verse highlights that threats may come as a ‘downpour’—sudden and intense—yet devotion teaches steadiness: take shelter of the Lord rather than panic, and meet adversity with clarity instead of being shaken by illusion.