Shloka 30
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
यदाभिभवितु बाणैर्न च शक्नोमि तं रणे । ततो महास्त्रमातिष्ठं वायव्यं भरतर्षभ,कभी उसका शरीर तो बहुत छोटा हो जाता, परंतु मस्तक बहुत बड़ा दिखायी देता था। फिर वह विशाल शरीर धारण कर लेता और मस्तक बहुत छोटा बना लेता था। राजन! अन्तमें वह एक ही रूपमें प्रकट होकर युद्धमें मेरा सामना करने लगा। भरतर्षभ! जब मैं बाणोंकी वर्षा करके भी युद्धमें उसे परास्त न कर सका, तब मैंने महान् वायव्यास्त्रका प्रयोग किया
arjuna uvāca | yadābhibhavituṃ bāṇair na ca śaknomi taṃ raṇe | tato mahāstram ātiṣṭhaṃ vāyavyaṃ bharatarṣabha ||
Arjuna said: “When, even by overwhelming him with volleys of arrows, I was unable to subdue him in battle, then, O bull among the Bharatas, I resorted to the great weapon—the Vāyavya astra (the missile of the Wind).”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior’s discernment in battle: when ordinary means (arrows) fail against an extraordinary opponent, one may escalate to a higher, specialized power (astra). It also implies responsibility—great weapons are used not casually but when necessity arises in a righteous contest.
Arjuna narrates that despite showering arrows he could not overpower his adversary in the fight. Therefore he employed the powerful Vāyavya astra, invoking the force of the Wind to gain advantage.