Mahabharata · 1.218.9–10
॥
Devanāgarī
तं मुमोचयिषुर् वज्री वातवर्षेण पाण्डवम् ॥
मोहयाम् आस तत्कालम् अश्वसेनस् त्व् अमुच्यत ॥
तां च मायां तदा दृष्ट्वा घोरां नागेन वञ्चितः ॥
द्विधा त्रिधा च चिच्छेद खगतान् एव भारत ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taṃ mumocayiṣur vajrī vātavarṣeṇa pāṇḍavam ||
mohayām āsa tatkālam aśvasenas tv amucyata ||
tāṃ ca māyāṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā ghorāṃ nāgena vañcitaḥ ||
dvidhā tridhā ca ciccheda khagatān eva bhārata ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तं मुमोचयिषुः वज्री वातवर्षेण पाण्डवम्taṃ mumocayiṣuḥ vajrī vātavarṣeṇa pāṇḍavamwishing to save [Ashvasena], the wielder of thunder confounded the Pandava with a whirlwind and downpour
मोहयाम् आस तत्कालम् अश्वसेनः तु अमुच्यतmohayām āsa tatkālam aśvasenaḥ tu amucyatafor that moment; and Ashvasena slipped away;
तां च मायां तदा दृष्ट्वा घोरां नागेन वञ्चितःtāṃ ca māyāṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā ghorāṃ nāgena vañcitaḥand having seen that terrible illusion, deceived by the naga,
द्विधा त्रिधा च चिच्छेद खगतान् एव भारतdvidhā tridhā ca ciccheda khagatān eva bhāratahe cut asunder in two and in three the flying [creatures], O Bharata;
मुमोचयिषुर्mumocayiṣuroriginal form "mumocayiṣur", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
अश्वसेनस्aśvasenasoriginal form "aśvasenas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
त्व्tvoriginal form "tv", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"Wishing to save Ashvasena, the wielder of thunder confounded the Pandava with a whirlwind and downpour for that moment; and Ashvasena slipped away; and having seen that terrible illusion, deceived by the naga, he cut asunder in two and in three the flying creatures, O Bharata."
Version
aa8d2911f2f2 · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:11:48 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here one is saved by deceit and by Indra's power. It is significant that Ashvasena escapes not through valor but through cunning and intercession: one saved by deceit gains no honor thereby. Here too is a warning: deliverance by guile leaves a shadow behind. Thus the scripture reveals Ashvasena's flight; and Arjuna's anger at the deception prepares a curse.