Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
पुनस्तानि शरीराणि एकीभूतानि भारत । अदृश्यन्त महाराज तान्यहं व्यधमं पुन:,भारत! फिर उसके वे सारे शरीर एकरूप दिखायी दिये। महाराज! उस एकरूपमें भी मैंने उसे पुन: अच्छी तरह घायल किया
punas tāni śarīrāṇi ekībhūtāni bhārata | adṛśyanta mahārāja tāny ahaṃ vyadhamaṃ punaḥ ||
Arjuna said: “Then, O Bhārata, those bodies were again seen as merged into a single form. O great king, even in that unified form I struck him again, wounding him thoroughly.”
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights steadfastness and clarity in action: even when forms appear to merge or shift, a warrior must maintain focus and resolve, acting decisively within the demands of kṣatriya-dharma.
Arjuna reports that multiple bodies or forms appeared to become one again; upon seeing this unified form, he attacks once more and wounds the opponent thoroughly, describing the continuing combat and the opponent’s changing appearance.