Shloka 716
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
इरावानपि संक्रुद्धों मायां स्रष्टूं प्रचक्रमे । युद्धके मुहानेपर समस्त योद्धाओंके देखते-देखते वह इरावान्को पकड़ना चाहता था। उस दुरात्मा राक्षसकी वैसी माया देखकर क्रोधमें भरे हुए इरावानने भी मायाका प्रयोग आरम्भ किया
sañjaya uvāca | irāvān api saṅkruddho māyāṃ sraṣṭuṃ pracakrame |
Disse Sañjaya: Iravān também, inflamado de ira, pôs-se a empregar o seu próprio poder de ilusão (māyā). Ao ver no campo de batalha o ardil enganoso do rākṣasa perverso—tentado à vista de todos os guerreiros reunidos, na intenção de capturar Iravān—ele, tomado de cólera, respondeu com māyā contra māyā, enfrentando a traição com uma réplica tática à altura das exigências da guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a wartime ethical tension: when confronted with deceit and harmful stratagems, a warrior may respond with proportionate counter-strategy to protect allies and uphold battlefield duty. It frames anger as a catalyst for action, yet implies that responses are shaped by the opponent’s conduct and the harsh norms of war.
A rākṣasa attempts to seize Iravan through magical deception in front of the gathered fighters. Witnessing this, Iravan becomes furious and begins to employ his own māyā, initiating a contest of illusions amid the ongoing battle.