Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
अदृश्यत तत: साक्षाद् भगवान् गोवृषध्वज: । उमासहायो व्यालधृग् बहुरूप: पिनाकधृकू
adṛśyata tataḥ sākṣād bhagavān govṛṣadhvajaḥ | umāsahāyo vyāladhṛg bahurūpaḥ pinākadhṛk ||
ત્યારબાદ વृषભ-ધ્વજ ભગવાન સాక్షાત્ પ્રગટ થયા—ઉમા સહિત, અંગોમાં સર્પ ધારણ કરેલા, બહુરૂપ અને હાથમાં પિનાક ધારણ કરેલા.
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical-religious idea that disciplined striving and devotion can culminate in divine grace: the deity becomes directly manifest and grants approval, legitimizing the seeker’s purpose when aligned with righteous intent.
Arjuna reports that Śiva appears visibly before him on the battlefield, accompanied by Umā, adorned with serpents and holding the bow Pināka; the many-formed Lord approaches, stands before Arjuna, and declares his satisfaction with him.