Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
ततः प्रज्वलितैर्बाणै: सर्वतः सोपचीयते । उपचीयमानश्न मया महास्त्रेण व्यवर्धत
tataḥ prajvalitair bāṇaiḥ sarvataḥ sopacīyate | upacīyamānaś ca mayā mahāstreṇa vyavardhata |
បន្ទាប់មក អាវុធនោះបានពង្រីកខ្លួនទៅគ្រប់ទិស ដោយព្រួញដែលឆេះភ្លើង។ ហើយពេលខ្ញុំជំរុញវាដោយមហាអាស្ត្ររបស់ខ្ញុំ វាក៏កាន់តែរីកធំឡើងទៀត—កម្លាំងកាន់តែខ្លាំង និងល្បឿនកាន់តែរហ័ស។
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights how violence and weapon-power can rapidly escalate once initiated and further propelled by human intent. It implicitly points to the ethical need for restraint and discernment (especially for a kṣatriya), because an unleashed force tends to grow beyond easy control.
Arjuna describes a weapon-force that, driven by blazing arrows, expands in all directions. When he applies his own great astra to spur it, the weapon intensifies further, increasing in speed and magnitude.