Shloka 24
Kailāsa-darśana, Badarī-vāsa, and Sarasvatī–Dvaitavana Transition (कैलासदर्शन–बदरीवास–सरस्वतीद्वैतवनगमनम्)
इस प्रकार मूढ़चित्त हो आपसमें ही एक-दूसरेपर धावा करनेवाले उन दानवोंके सौ-सौ मस्तकोंको मैं अपने प्रज्वलित बाणोंद्वारा काट-काटकर गिराने लगा ।। ते वध्यमाना दैतेया: पुरमास्थाय तत् पुनः खमुत्पेतु: सनगरा मायामास्थाय दानवीम्,वे दैत्य जब इस प्रकार मारे जाने लगे, तब पुनः अपने उस नगरमें ही घुस गये और दानवी मायाका सहारा ले नगर सहित आकाशमें ऊँचे उड़ गये
arjuna uvāca |
iti prakāraṁ mūḍha-cittāḥ parasparaṁ eva anyonyaṁ prati dhāvaṁ kurvāṇān tān dānavānāṁ śataśaḥ mastakāni ahaṁ sva-prajvalitaiḥ bāṇaiḥ chittvā chittvā pātayituṁ prārebhe ||
te vadhyamānā daiteyāḥ puraṁ āsthāya tat punaḥ khaṁ utpetuḥ sa-nagarāḥ dānavīṁ māyām āsthāya ||
Arjuna disse: «Vendo aqueles guerreiros Dānava, com a mente iludida, investirem uns contra os outros, comecei a decepar e lançar ao chão suas cabeças às centenas com minhas flechas flamejantes. Mas, sendo assim mortos, os Daiteyas recuaram de novo para dentro de sua cidade; e, recorrendo à māyā demoníaca, elevaram-se ao céu juntamente com a cidade inteira.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts straightforward valor with deceptive evasion: Arjuna’s direct martial action represents accountable engagement in conflict, while the Daiteyas’ resort to māyā shows how delusion and trickery can prolong harm and delay rightful consequences.
Arjuna strikes down the attacking Dānava/Daiteya forces, severing many heads with flaming arrows. As they begin to be destroyed, the Daiteyas retreat into their city and, using demonic illusion, lift the entire city into the sky to escape and regroup.