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Shloka 31

कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः

Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative

अस्त्रमप्रतिसंधेयं तदद्भुतमिवा भवत्‌ । तब किसीसे पराजित न होनेवाले महर्षि नरने उनके ऊपर भयंकर ऐषीकास्त्रका प्रयोग किया; जिसका निवारण करना असम्भव था। यह एक अद्भुत-सी घटना हुई ।। ३० ह ।। तेषामक्षीणि कर्णाक्ष नासिकाश्ैव मायया

astram apratisaṃdheyaṃ tad adbhutam ivābhavat | teṣām akṣīṇi karṇākṣa-nāsikāś caiva māyayā ||

ସେ ଅସ୍ତ୍ରର ପ୍ରତିକାର ଅସମ୍ଭବ ଥିଲା; ତାହା ମାନୋ ଏକ ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ ଘଟଣା ହେଲା। ମାୟାବଳରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ କାନ, ଆଖି ଓ ନାକ ଲୋପ ପାଇଲା।

अस्त्रम्weapon, missile
अस्त्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअस्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अप्रतिसंधेयम्irremediable; impossible to counteract/ward off
अप्रतिसंधेयम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअप्रतिसंधेय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अद्भुतम्wonderful, marvelous
अद्भुतम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअद्भुत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इवas if, like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अभवत्became, happened
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
अक्षीणिeyes
अक्षीणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअक्षि
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural
कर्णाक्षear-holes (lit. ear-eyes/openings)
कर्णाक्ष:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्णाक्ष
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural (intended, though form is ambiguous in citation)
नासिकाःnoses/nostrils
नासिकाः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनासिका
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
माययाby illusion/magic
मायया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमाया
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular

राम उवाच

R
Rama
A
Astra (weapon)
M
Maya (illusion)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the terrifying asymmetry of power when an irresistible astra is used: when force becomes ‘uncounterable,’ ethical responsibility and restraint become crucial, because the victim’s agency and even bodily integrity can be overwhelmed by māyā.

Rāma describes an extraordinary event in which an astra that cannot be neutralized is deployed, producing a wondrous yet dreadful effect: through illusion, the opponents’ sensory organs—ears, eyes, and noses—are made to disappear.