Shloka 56
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षस: सुमहाबल: । त्वरमाणस्ततो मायां प्रयोक्तुमुपचक्रमे,इरावानको आते देख उस महाबली राक्षसने शीघ्रतापूर्वक मायाका प्रयोग आरम्भ किया
tam āpatatantaṁ samprekṣya rākṣasaḥ sumahābalaḥ | tvaramāṇas tato māyāṁ prayoktum upacakrame ||
तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसः सुमहाबलः । त्वरमाणस्ततो मायां प्रयोक्तुमुपचक्रमे ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a wartime ethical tension: when direct strength meets resistance, a combatant may turn to māyā (deception/illusion). It invites reflection on how strategy and deceit operate within the limits of kṣatriya conduct and the moral costs of victory sought through illusion.
As an opponent charges in, a very powerful rākṣasa sees the attack and quickly begins to deploy māyā—magical or deceptive tactics—to counter the oncoming assault.