Shloka 2536
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
तमाश्रित्य हि ते सर्वे वर्तयन्तेडकुतो भया: । मयासुर इन सबको सब प्रकारकी अप्राप्त वस्तुएँ प्राप्त कराता था। उसका आश्रय लेकर वे सम्पूर्ण दैत्य निर्भय होकर रहते थे
tam āśritya hi te sarve vartayante ḍakuto bhayāḥ |
Duryodhana disse: “Apoiando-se nele, todos eles prosseguiam sem medo—de onde poderia vir o temor? Pois aquele asura, Māya, costumava assegurar-lhes, de todas as maneiras, até mesmo coisas que de outro modo seriam inalcançáveis; tomando refúgio nele, os Daityas viviam inteiramente destemidos.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fearlessness can arise from dependence on a powerful patron who can procure even the unattainable; ethically, it hints at the fragility of such confidence when it rests on external power rather than inner restraint or dharma.
Duryodhana explains that certain beings (Daityas) lived without fear because they relied on an Asura who supplied them with whatever they desired, even what could not normally be obtained.