Shloka 174
Bhīmasena’s Capture by the Serpent and Nahūṣa’s Self-Disclosure (भीमसेन-भुजङ्गग्रहणं नहुषोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत निवातकवचयुद्धपर्वमें अस्रदर्शनके लिये संकेतविषयक एक सौ चौह्तत्तरवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraṁ śrīmahābhārata-vanaparvake antargata-nivātakavaca-yuddha-parvaṇi astradarśanāya saṅketa-viṣayaka ekaśata-catuḥsaptatitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ
Así concluye el capítulo ciento setenta y cuatro del Mahābhārata, en el Vana Parva, dentro de la sección Nivātakavaca-yuddha, relativo a la señal convenida para el propósito de revelar y mostrar las armas celestiales. El narrador deja constancia del cierre formal de esta unidad, subrayando el orden del procedimiento y la disciplina en la comunicación en medio de los preparativos para el conflicto.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the context of war, action should be governed by order, restraint, and clear procedure; the mention of a prearranged signal for revealing weapons highlights disciplined coordination rather than impulsive violence.
This is a colophon-style closing statement: it announces that the 174th chapter has concluded, situating it within Vana Parva and the Nivātakavaca battle episode, and noting that the chapter’s subject concerned a signal connected with the demonstration or disclosure of divine weapons.