Shloka 11
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
रथाभ्यां रथिनौ श्रेष्ठी यथा वै देवदानवौ । फिर तो वे मनुष्य तथा राक्षस दोनों वीर तुरंत ही युद्धस्थलमें एक-दूसरेसे भिड़ गये। दोनों ही रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ थे, अतः देवता और दानवकी भाँति रथोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेका सामना करने लगे ।।
sañjaya uvāca | rathābhyāṃ rathinau śreṣṭhī yathā vai devadānavau | māyāvī rākṣasaśreṣṭho divyāstrajñaiś ca phālguniḥ ||
پھر وہ دونوں برگزیدہ رتھی—انسان اور راکشس—رتھوں پر سوار ہو کر دیوتا اور دانَو کی طرح ایک دوسرے کے مقابل آ گئے۔ راکشسوں میں سردار اَلمبُش مایا کا ماہر تھا، اور فالگُنی کے پُتر ابھیمنیو دیویہ اَستر-ودیا میں نپُڻ تھا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two kinds of power in war: māyā (deceptive illusion) and divyāstra-jñāna (disciplined, sanctioned martial knowledge). Ethically, it highlights that prowess is not merely force but also the manner of fighting—skill aligned with rightful training and duty is set against trickery and delusion.
Sanjaya describes a chariot-to-chariot engagement: the Rakshasa Alambusha, famed for illusion, confronts Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, who is trained in celestial weapons. They meet like a deva and a dānava in direct combat, signaling an intense duel between two elite warriors.