Shloka 44
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
अदृश्यत तत: साक्षाद् भगवान् गोवृषध्वज: । उमासहायो व्यालधृग् बहुरूप: पिनाकधृकू
adṛśyata tataḥ sākṣād bhagavān govṛṣadhvajaḥ | umāsahāyo vyāladhṛg bahurūpaḥ pinākadhṛk ||
Then the Blessed Lord, whose banner bears the bull, became visible in person—accompanied by Umā, adorned with serpents, and holding the bow Pināka. The many-formed Lord, the wielder of the trident, came near me on that battlefield, stood before me as before, and said: “O scorcher of foes, I am pleased with you.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-religious idea that disciplined striving and devotion can culminate in divine grace: the deity becomes directly manifest and grants approval, legitimizing the seeker’s purpose when aligned with righteous intent.
Arjuna reports that Śiva appears visibly before him on the battlefield, accompanied by Umā, adorned with serpents and holding the bow Pināka; the many-formed Lord approaches, stands before Arjuna, and declares his satisfaction with him.