Shloka 216
Sauptika-parva Adhyāya 13 — Bhīmasena’s Pursuit of Drauṇi and the Release of a Divine Astra
सर्वलोकप्रमोहार्थ तदस्त्र॑ प्रमुमोच ह । नृपश्रेष्ठ ऐसा कहकर प्रतापी द्रोणपुत्रने सम्पूर्ण लोकोंको मोहमें डालनेके लिये वह अस्त्र छोड़ दिया
sarvalokapramohārthaṃ tad astraṃ pramumoca ha |
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: Sa layuning ilugmok sa pagkalito at pagkahibang ang lahat ng nilalang, pinakawalan niya ang sandatang iyon. Ipinahihiwatig ng gawaing ito ang sinadyang pag-igting ng digmaan—paggamit ng puwersang hindi lamang para talunin ang kalaban, kundi upang lamunin ang kaayusang moral at pangkaisipan ng buong daigdig.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of deploying power with the intention to spread moha (delusion) broadly: when violence aims at universal confusion rather than limited military necessity, it signals a fall from dharma and invites grave consequences.
In the Sauptika Parva’s aftermath of night slaughter, the narrative reports that a formidable astra is discharged specifically to bewilder all beings, marking a dramatic intensification of the conflict through supernatural means.