Shloka 55
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
उत्सादनममित्राणां परसेनानिकर्तनम्
utsādanam amitrāṇāṁ parasenānikartanam | vah śatrūṇāṁ saṁhārakaḥ ca vipakṣīyāṇāṁ senāyāḥ vidhvaṁsakaḥ | tasya prāptiḥ bahu duṣkarā | devatā dānava tathā rākṣasānām api kasya cit tasya vegaḥ soḍhum atyantaṁ duṣkaraḥ | punaḥ bhagavataḥ śivasya ājñayā ahaṁ tatraiva upaviṣṭaḥ, te ca mama paśyataḥ paśyataḥ antardhānaṁ gatāḥ ||
Arjuna said: “It is a power that crushes enemies and cuts down opposing armies—truly a slayer of foes and a destroyer of hostile forces. To obtain it is exceedingly difficult. Even gods, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas can scarcely endure its irresistible force. Then, at Lord Śiva’s command, I remained seated there, and before my very eyes they vanished from sight.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power—especially war-winning force—must be approached with humility and discipline; even when granted or revealed, it remains difficult to obtain and dangerous to withstand, and the righteous response is obedience to divine instruction rather than pride.
Arjuna describes a formidable, army-destroying power whose force even celestial and demonic beings can hardly bear. After Śiva issues a command, Arjuna stays seated, and the beings present disappear before his eyes.