Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
विद्यामधीत्य तां राजंस्त्वयोक्तामरिमर्दन । भवता च समादिष्टस्तपसे प्रस्थितो वनम्
vidyām adhītya tāṁ rājan tvayoktām arimardana | bhavatā ca samādiṣṭas tapase prasthito vanam ||
હે અરિમર્દન રાજન! આપ દ્વારા કહેલી તે વિદ્યાનું અધ્યયન કરીને અને આપના જ આદેશથી હું તપ માટે વન તરફ પ્રસ્થાન કર્યો.
अजुन उवाच
The verse emphasizes disciplined learning followed by obedient action: Arjuna first masters the instruction given by the king and then undertakes tapas as directed, showing that spiritual power and divine encounter are approached through study, self-control, and faithful execution of rightful counsel.
Arjuna addresses a king, recalling that after learning the teaching imparted to him, he departed for the forest to perform austerities. He introduces his forthcoming account of how he gained audience with Indra and Śaṅkara, setting the stage for the narrative of divine encounters earned through tapas.