Shloka 25
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
ततो गिरिमिवात्यर्थमावृणोन्मां महाशरै: । तं॑ चाहं शरवर्षेण महता समवाकिरम्,ऐसा कहकर उस भीलने जैसे पर्वतपर वर्षा हो, उस प्रकार महान् बाणोंकी बौछार करके मुझे सब ओरसे ढक दिया; तब मैंने भी भारी बाणवर्षा करके उसे सब ओरसे आच्छादित कर दिया
tato girim ivātyartham āvṛṇon māṃ mahāśaraiḥ | taṃ cāhaṃ śaravarṣeṇa mahatā samavākiram ||
ثم غطّاني تمامًا بسهامٍ عظيمة، كأن جبلًا قد لُفَّ بسيلٍ منهمر. فبادلتُه أنا أيضًا، وأغرقتُه من كل جانب بمطرٍ جارف من السهام.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of steadfastness under attack: when overwhelmed, one does not collapse but responds with disciplined strength, matching aggression without losing composure.
Arjuna describes an exchange of missile-fire: his opponent blankets him with a dense volley of powerful arrows, and Arjuna counters by covering the opponent with an equally heavy rain of arrows.