Shloka 168
इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि निवातकवचयुद्धपर्वण्यर्जुनवाक्ये अष्टषष्ट्यघधिकशततमो<ध्याय:
iti śrīmahābhārate vanaparvaṇi nivātakavacayuddhaparvaṇy arjunavākye aṣṭaṣaṣṭy-adhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ
Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Vana Parva—specifically in the section describing the battle with the Nivātakavacas—this marks the close of Arjuna’s speech and the completion of the one-hundred-and-sixty-eighth chapter. The line functions as a traditional colophon, situating the narrative within its larger ethical frame: Arjuna’s divinely aided struggle against formidable foes is presented as part of the disciplined pursuit of duty and protection of cosmic order.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
This line is a colophon rather than a doctrinal verse: it emphasizes textual framing—placing Arjuna’s words within the Vana Parva and the Nivātakavaca battle episode—implicitly highlighting that heroic action and speech are evaluated within the Mahābhārata’s larger dharmic narrative.
The narrative segment concerning the battle with the Nivātakavacas is being formally closed for this chapter; the colophon notes that Arjuna’s speech has concluded and identifies the chapter count within the Vana Parva’s internal divisions.