Shloka 266
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
छादयामास समरे शरै: संनतपर्वभि: । इस प्रकार महापराक्रमी नरश्रेष्ठ अभिमन्युने उस दुरात्मा राक्षसकी मायाको नष्ट कर दिया और अत्यन्त कुपित हो झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा उसे समरभूमिमें आच्छादित कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca | chādayāmāsa samare śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—समरे स महापराक्रमी नरश्रेष्ठोऽभिमन्युः संनतपर्वभिः शरैस्तं दुरात्मानं राक्षसं छादयामास। तस्य मायां विनाश्य च धर्मकोपसमन्वितः समरभूमौ झुकीगाँठयुक्तैर्बाणैस्तमत्यर्थमभ्यवकीर्य समन्तात् पर्यमृद्नात्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts deceptive power (māyā) with disciplined valor and righteous resolve: dharmic strength is shown not by trickery but by steadfast courage and the ability to dispel delusion in the pursuit of one’s duty.
Sañjaya describes Abhimanyu countering and destroying a rākṣasa’s illusory tactics, then, angered, overwhelming him by covering him with a dense volley of arrows on the battlefield.