Shloka 22
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
तब मैंने धनुष तथा अक्षय तरकस लेकर एक बाणके द्वारा उस रोमांचकारी सूकरपर आघात किया ।।
arjuna uvāca | tadāhaṃ dhanuṣā cākṣaya-tuṇīraṃ gṛhītvā ekena bāṇena taṃ romaharṣaṇaṃ sūkaraṃ jaghāna | yugapat taṃ kirātas tu vikṛṣya balavad dhanuḥ abhyājaghne dṛḍhataraṃ kampayann iva me manaḥ ||
Arjuna dit : «Alors je saisis mon arc et mon carquois inépuisable, et d’une seule flèche je frappai ce sanglier qui faisait se hérisser les poils. À cet instant même, le Kirāta, bandant jusqu’au bout son arc puissant, le toucha lui aussi d’un trait plus ferme encore—si bien que mon cœur sembla trembler».
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a great hero’s prowess is tested to curb pride and refine discernment; the episode underscores that true strength must be joined with humility and respect for dharma, especially when the divine may appear in ordinary guise.
Arjuna shoots a fearsome boar with a single arrow, but at the same instant a Kirāta hunter also strikes it powerfully. The simultaneous hit sets up a dispute over rightful claim and becomes the turning point of Arjuna’s encounter with Śiva in disguise.