तां च मायां तदा दृष्टवा घोरां नागेन वज्चित: । द्विधा त्रिधा च खगतान् प्राणिन: पाण्डवो5च्छिनत्
tāṃ ca māyāṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā ghorāṃ nāgena vañcitaḥ | dvidhā tridhā ca khagatān prāṇinaḥ pāṇḍavo 'cchinat ||
اُس ہولناک مایا کو دیکھ کر، سانپ کے فریب سے دھوکا کھائے ہوئے پاندو پُتر ارجن نے آسمان میں اُڑنے والے جانداروں کو دو دو اور تین تین ٹکڑوں میں کاٹ ڈالا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical danger of māyā (delusion): when perception is distorted by deception, even a righteous hero may act with excessive force. It implicitly values discernment and restraint—testing appearances before unleashing violence.
A serpent (Nāga) produces a terrifying illusion. Arjuna, momentarily deceived, reacts by attacking the airborne beings he sees, cutting the flying creatures into two or three pieces.