Shloka 30
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
यदाभिभवितु बाणैर्न च शक्नोमि तं रणे । ततो महास्त्रमातिष्ठं वायव्यं भरतर्षभ
arjuna uvāca | yadābhibhavituṃ bāṇair na ca śaknomi taṃ raṇe | tato mahāstram ātiṣṭhaṃ vāyavyaṃ bharatarṣabha ||
Arjuna dit : «Lorsque, même en l’accablant de volées de flèches, je ne pus le dompter dans la bataille, alors, ô taureau parmi les Bhārata, j’eus recours à la grande arme : le Vāyavya astra, le trait du Vent.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior’s discernment in battle: when ordinary means (arrows) fail against an extraordinary opponent, one may escalate to a higher, specialized power (astra). It also implies responsibility—great weapons are used not casually but when necessity arises in a righteous contest.
Arjuna narrates that despite showering arrows he could not overpower his adversary in the fight. Therefore he employed the powerful Vāyavya astra, invoking the force of the Wind to gain advantage.