Shloka 16
Divyāstrāṇāṃ Pradarśana-nivāraṇa
Display of Divine Weapons and Its Prohibition
मां च भीराविशत् तीव्रा तस्मिन् विगतचेतसि । सच मां विगतज्ञान: संत्रस्तमिदमब्रवीत्,मातलिके बेसुध होनेपर मेरे मनमें भी अत्यन्त भय समा गया। तब सुध-बुध खोये हुए मातलिने मुझ भयभीत योद्धासे इस प्रकार कहा--
māṁ ca bhīr āviśat tīvrā tasmin vigatacetasi | sa ca māṁ vigatajñānaḥ saṁtrastam idam abravīt |
Arjuna said: “And an intense fear seized me as well, when he had lost his composure. Then Mātali—his awareness gone—addressed me, who stood alarmed, and spoke these words.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can spread even to a steadfast warrior when a companion loses composure; it implicitly values steadiness of mind and clear discernment as ethical necessities in moments of danger.
Arjuna narrates that, seeing Mātali become senseless and distraught, he too is seized by intense fear; then Mātali, though shaken, begins to speak to Arjuna, setting up the next instruction or warning.