Shloka 8
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
यच्चापि वज्पाणेस्तु प्रियं कृतमरिंदम । एतदाख्याहि मे सर्वमखिलेन धनंजय
yaccāpi vajrapāṇes tu priyaṁ kṛtam arindama | etad ākhyāhi me sarvam akhilena dhanañjaya ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô dompteur des ennemis, Dhanañjaya, raconte-moi pleinement et en détail quel acte agréable tu as accompli pour Indra, le porteur du foudre. Je veux entendre le récit tout entier, sans rien omettre.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical value of truthful, complete narration and the recognition that heroic action gains meaning when aligned with higher purpose—here, a deed that earns divine approval and is worth recounting in full.
Vaiśampāyana prompts Arjuna (addressed as Dhanañjaya, ‘crusher of foes’) to recount in detail the specific act he performed that pleased Indra, the thunderbolt-wielder, setting up a fuller description of Arjuna’s divine encounters and accomplishments.