Shloka 216
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
चक्रे विमुखमासाद्य मयं शक्र इवाहवे । जैसे इन्द्र युद्धस्थलमें मयासुरको विमुख कर देते हैं
cakre vimukham āsādya mayaṁ śakra ivāhave |
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: Nang harapin niya si Maya, pinilit niya itong umurong—gaya ni Indra (Śakra) sa digmaan na nagpapaatras sa demonyong Maya. Kaya si Abhimanyu, anak ni Subhadrā, ay tumama sa rākṣasang iyon gamit ang mga palasong may buhol at itinaboy siya mula sa labanan, ipinakikita ang tapang at disiplina sa digmaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbasag sa loob ng kaaway, hindi lamang sa paghahangad ng pagpatay.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as controlled valor: a warrior’s excellence is shown by decisively neutralizing an opponent’s threat—here by forcing retreat—mirroring the divine standard exemplified by Indra.
Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu confronts Maya and, likened to Indra facing Maya in battle, strikes him so effectively (traditionally with knotted arrows) that the rākṣasa turns away and withdraws from combat.