Shloka 79
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
अयं सौभं योधयामास खस्थं विभीषणं मायया शाल्वराजम् | सौभद्दारि प्रत्यगृह्नाच्छतघ्नीं दोर्भ्या क एनं विषद्वेत मर्त्य:
ayaṃ saubhaṃ yodhayāmāsa khasthaṃ vibhīṣaṇaṃ māyayā śālvarājam | saubhaddāri pratyagṛhnāc chataghnīṃ dorbhyā ka enaṃ viṣadvet martyaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—अयं खस्थं सौभं योधयामास, मायया घोररूपं धारयन्तं शाल्वराजं विभीषणम्। सौभद्वारि च शतघ्नीं प्रत्यगृह्णात् दोर्भ्याम्; क एनं वेगं बलं च मर्त्यः सहेत?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights extraordinary valor and presence of mind in battle: even when confronted with deceptive, fear-inducing sorcery (māyā), a true warrior remains steady and acts decisively. It implicitly contrasts mere magical terror with inner strength and disciplined courage.
Sañjaya describes a feat in which the hero confronts King Śālva, who fights from the airborne Saubha using magical illusion. During the clash, the hero even catches a formidable fort-weapon (śataghnī) at Saubha’s doorway, and Sañjaya marvels that no ordinary mortal could bear such speed and force.