Shloka 55
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
उत्सादनममित्राणां परसेनानिकर्तनम्
utsādanam amitrāṇāṁ parasenānikartanam | vah śatrūṇāṁ saṁhārakaḥ ca vipakṣīyāṇāṁ senāyāḥ vidhvaṁsakaḥ | tasya prāptiḥ bahu duṣkarā | devatā dānava tathā rākṣasānām api kasya cit tasya vegaḥ soḍhum atyantaṁ duṣkaraḥ | punaḥ bhagavataḥ śivasya ājñayā ahaṁ tatraiva upaviṣṭaḥ, te ca mama paśyataḥ paśyataḥ antardhānaṁ gatāḥ ||
Arjuna dit : «C’est une puissance qui écrase les ennemis et fauche les armées adverses — véritable meurtrière des foes et destructrice des forces hostiles. L’obtenir est d’une difficulté extrême. Même les dieux, les Dānavas et les Rākṣasas supportent à peine son élan irrésistible. Puis, sur l’ordre du Seigneur Śiva, je demeurai assis là, et sous mes yeux mêmes ils disparurent de la vue.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power—especially war-winning force—must be approached with humility and discipline; even when granted or revealed, it remains difficult to obtain and dangerous to withstand, and the righteous response is obedience to divine instruction rather than pride.
Arjuna describes a formidable, army-destroying power whose force even celestial and demonic beings can hardly bear. After Śiva issues a command, Arjuna stays seated, and the beings present disappear before his eyes.