Shloka 57
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
प्रेक्षतश्नैेव मे देवस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
prekṣataḥ śanaiḥ eva me devaḥ tatra eva antaradhīyata | sa śatrūṇāṃ saṃhārakaḥ vipakṣīyāṇāṃ senāyāḥ vidhvaṃsakaḥ | tasya prāptiḥ bahu kaṭhinā | devatā dānavāḥ rākṣasāś ca kasya api tasya vegaṃ soḍhum atyantaṃ kaṭhinam | punaḥ bhagavataḥ śivasya ājñayā ahaṃ tatra eva upaviśya tiṣṭhāmi sma, te ca mama paśyataḥ paśyataḥ antarhitāḥ abhavan ||
Arjuna said: “While I was still watching, the divine being gradually vanished right there. He is the slayer of enemies and the destroyer of opposing armies. To attain him is exceedingly difficult; even gods, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas find his force almost impossible to endure. Then, in obedience to Lord Śiva’s command, I remained seated in that very place, and before my eyes he disappeared.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes disciplined obedience and humility before divine instruction: even a mighty hero acknowledges that divine power is difficult to attain and unbearable to many beings, and he responds by following Śiva’s command without resistance.
Arjuna narrates that a divine figure—described as a destroyer of enemies and armies—gradually disappears before his eyes. After receiving Śiva’s instruction, Arjuna remains seated there, and the being vanishes from sight.