Shloka 22
तथा च सर्वास्तिमिरेण वै दिशो मेघैर्व॒ता न प्रदृश्येत किंचित् । अथापोवाह्या भ्रसंघान् समस्तान् वायव्यास्त्रेणापतत: स कर्णात्,मेघोंसे घिरकर सारी दिशाएँ अन्धकाराच्छन्न हो गयीं; अतः कोई भी वस्तु दिखायी नहीं देती थी। तदनन्तर कर्णकी ओरसे आये हुए सम्पूर्ण मेघ-समूहोंको वायव्यास्त्रसे छिन्न-भिन्न करके शत्रुओंके लिये अजेय अर्जुनने गाण्डीव धनुष, उसकी प्रत्यंचा तथा बाणोंको अभिमन्त्रित करके अत्यन्त प्रभावशाली वच्ञास्त्रको प्रकट किया, जो देवराज इन्द्रका प्रिय अस्त्र है
sañjaya uvāca | tathā ca sarvāstimireṇa vai diśo meghair vātā na pradṛśyeta kiñcit | athāpovāhyā bhra-saṅghān samastān vāyavyāstreṇāpatataḥ sa karṇāt |
Sañjaya said: Then, as masses of clouds swept in, all the directions were covered in darkness, so that nothing at all could be seen. Thereupon, the entire host of clouds that had rushed forth from Karṇa was torn apart by the Wind-weapon (Vāyavya-astra), restoring the field of vision.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, advantage gained through obscuring perception (darkness, concealment) is met by countermeasures that restore clarity; the episode highlights that true prowess is tested when confusion is dispelled and skill must stand openly.
Clouds spread darkness in all directions so nothing is visible; then the cloud-masses coming from Karṇa are dispersed by the Vāyavya-astra (Wind weapon), clearing the battlefield.