Mahabharata 7.83.34–36

Jayadratha-vadha-parva (The Battle with Alambusa)7.83.34–36

7249 / 15823

Mahabharata · 7.83.34–36

॥

Devanāgarī

ततः क्रोधाभिताम्राक्षो निर्दहन्न् इव पावकः ॥
संदधे त्वाष्ट्रम् अस्त्रं स स्वयं त्वष्टेव मारिष ॥
ततः शरसहस्राणि प्रादुरासन् समन्ततः ॥
तैः शरैस् तव सैन्यस्य विद्रावः सुमहान् अभूत् ॥
तद् अस्त्रं प्रेषितं तेन भीमसेनेन संयुगे ॥
राक्षसस्य महामायां हत्वा राक्षसम् आर्दयत् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

tataḥ krodhābhitāmrākṣo nirdahann iva pāvakaḥ ||
saṃdadhe tvāṣṭram astraṃ sa svayaṃ tvaṣṭeva māriṣa ||
tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi prādurāsan samantataḥ ||
taiḥ śarais tava sainyasya vidrāvaḥ sumahān abhūt ||
tad astraṃ preṣitaṃ tena bhīmasenena saṃyuge ||
rākṣasasya mahāmāyāṃ hatvā rākṣasam ārdayat ||

Word-by-word

SanskritIASTMeaning

ततः क्रोधाभिताम्राक्षःtataḥ krodhābhitāmrākṣaḥthen with eyes copper-red from wrath; then with eyes coppery-red from fury

निर्दहन् इव पावकःnirdahan iva pāvakaḥlike a consuming fire; as if a blazing flame

संदधे त्वाष्ट्रम् अस्त्रम् सःsaṃdadhe tvāṣṭram astram saḥhe set to [the bow] the weapon of Tvashtar, he; he fitted [to the bow] the weapon of Tvashtar, he

स्वयम् त्वष्टा इव मारिषsvayam tvaṣṭā iva māriṣahimself, as if Tvashtar, O venerable one; himself, like Tvashtar, O honored one

ततः शरसहस्राणिtataḥ śarasahasrāṇithen thousands of arrows; thereupon thousands of arrows

प्रादुरासन् समन्ततःprādurāsan samantataḥappeared on every side; arose from everywhere

तैः शरैः तव सैन्यस्यtaiḥ śaraiḥ tava sainyasyaby those arrows, of your army; by those arrows, in your army

विद्रावः सुमहान् अभूत्vidrāvaḥ sumahān abhūta very great rout occurred; a mighty rout took place

तत् अस्त्रम् प्रेषितम् तेनtat astram preṣitam tenathat weapon, sent by him; that weapon, released by him

भीमसेनेन संयुगेbhīmasenena saṃyugeby Bhimasena in battle; by Bhimasena in combat

राक्षसस्य महामायाम्rākṣasasya mahāmāyāmthe great illusion of the rakshasa; the great magic of the rakshasa

हत्वा राक्षसम् आर्दयत्hatvā rākṣasam ārdayathaving destroyed, tormented the rakshasa; having shattered, harrowed the rakshasa

Translation

Then, with eyes copper-red from wrath, like a consuming fire, he set to his bow the weapon of Tvashtar — himself, O venerable one, like Tvashtar. Then thousands of arrows appeared on every side; by those arrows a very great rout befell your army. That weapon, released by Bhimasena in battle, having shattered the great illusion of the rakshasa, tormented the rakshasa himself.

Commentary

Bhima answers delusion with "tvāṣṭram astram", the weapon of Tvashtar, the divine shaper of forms: true strength dispels false appearances. "Rākṣasasya mahāmāyāṃ hatvā" — the illusion is shattered, and the helplessness of the one who hid behind it stands exposed. It is telling that illusion perishes before the light of higher knowledge. The verse teaches that the delusion of evil, however many-faced, is dispelled by the power of truth; and one armed with knowledge descending from above scatters delusion as the sun scatters darkness.

Version

7c81f9cda577 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:02:22 PM UTC

Available inRUEN

PreviousVerse 7.83.31–33 NextVerse 7.83.37–39

Page between verses with