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 ||
ତାପରେ ସେଇ ଦୁଇ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ରଥୀ—ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଓ ରାକ୍ଷସ—ଦେବ ଓ ଦାନବ ପରି ରଥେ ରଥେ ପରସ୍ପରଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେଲେ। ରାକ୍ଷସଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଅଲମ୍ବୁଷ ମାୟାବୀ ଥିଲା, ଏବଂ ଫାଲ୍ଗୁନିପୁତ୍ର ଅଭିମନ୍ୟୁ ଦିବ୍ୟାସ୍ତ୍ରବିଦ୍ୟାରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ ଥିଲେ।
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.