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Shloka 21

Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense

Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha

बहुरूपैकरूपं तद् द‍ृश्यते न च द‍ृश्यते । मायामयं मयकृतं दुर्विभाव्यं परैरभूत् ॥ २१ ॥

bahu-rūpaika-rūpaṁ tad dṛśyate na ca dṛśyate māyā-mayaṁ maya-kṛtaṁ durvibhāvyaṁ parair abhūt

ยานเวหามายาที่มยะทานวะสร้างนั้น บางคราวแม้เป็นหนึ่งเดียวก็ปรากฏเป็นหลายรูปที่เหมือนกัน บางคราวก็เห็น บางคราวก็ไม่เห็น ด้วยเหตุนี้ฝ่ายตรงข้ามของศัลวะจึงไม่อาจแน่ใจได้ว่ายานนั้นอยู่แห่งใด

bahu-rūpa-eka-rūpamhaving many forms yet one form
bahu-rūpa-eka-rūpam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootbahu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); समासः—बहुरूपं च एकरूपं च (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)
tatthat (thing)
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun
dṛśyateis seen/appears
dṛśyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdṛś (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNiṣedha-avyaya (निषेध-अव्यय, negation particle)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-avyaya (समुच्चय-अव्यय, conjunction)
dṛśyateis seen/appears
dṛśyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdṛś (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)
māyā-mayammade of illusion
māyā-mayam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootmāyā (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—मायायाः मयम् (made of/consisting of māyā)
maya-kṛtammade by me
maya-kṛtam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootmaya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) kṛta; तत्पुरुषः—मया कृतम् (done by me)
durvibhāvyamhard to comprehend
durvibhāvyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootdur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vibhāvya (कृदन्त; √bhū/√bhāv धातु)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); gerundive/भाव्य (तव्यत्-अर्थे, ‘to be conceived’); दुर्ग्रहणीयम्
paraiḥby others
paraiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)
abhūtbecame/was
abhūt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
FormLuṅ (लुङ्, Aorist/Imperfect past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

This verse states that what Kṛṣṇa creates through His māyā can appear in contradictory ways—many yet one, seen yet not seen—and remains beyond ordinary comprehension.

Because the Lord’s māyā is His own potency; those who rely only on material logic or limited perception cannot fully grasp a manifestation produced by the Supreme.

It encourages humility: not everything is fully knowable by limited senses, so one should seek clarity through devotion, scripture, and steady spiritual practice rather than pride in mere argument.