Shloka 56
Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
यया मायामयान् दृप्तान् सुबहून् धनदालये । जघान गुह्ुकान क्रुद्धो नदन् पार्थो महाबल:
yayā māyāmayān dṛptān subahūn dhanadālaye | jaghāna guhukān kruddho nadan pārtho mahābalaḥ ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—அதே ஆயுதத்தால் மகாபலன் பார்த்தன், தனதனின் இல்லத்தில், கோபத்தால் கர்ஜித்து, மாயையால் போரிடும் பல அகந்தையுள்ள குஹ்யகர்களை வதைத்தான்.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts deceptive, pride-driven aggression (māyāmayāḥ, dṛptāḥ) with the decisive force of righteous martial action. In the epic’s ethical frame, arrogance and reliance on trickery are shown as self-defeating, while disciplined strength—though fierce—serves the larger demands of dharma in war.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna (Pārtha), enraged and roaring, uses a particular means/weapon to kill many opponents described as arrogant and employing illusory or deceptive tactics, at a location identified as Dhanada’s abode (Kubera’s domain).