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 ||
अर्जुन बोले—“वह शत्रुओं का संहारक और विपक्षी सेनाओं का विध्वंसक है। उसकी प्राप्ति अत्यन्त कठिन है। देवता, दानव और राक्षस भी उसके अप्रतिहत वेग को सहन नहीं कर सकते। तब भगवान् शिव की आज्ञा से मैं वहीं बैठ गया; और मेरे देखते-देखते वे अन्तर्धान हो गए।”
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.