Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
स मामभ्येत्य समरे तथैवाभिमुखं स्थितम् । शूलपाणिरथोवाच तुष्टोउस्मीति परंतप
sa mām abhyetya samare tathaivābhimukhaṁ sthitam | śūlapāṇir athovāca tuṣṭo ’smi iti parantapa ||
ແລ້ວໃນກາງສົງຄາມ ພຣະສູລະປານິໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາຫາຂ້ອຍ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ຂ້ອຍຢືນປະເຊີນໜ້າພຣະອົງເຊັ່ນເກົ່າ. ພຣະອົງຢືນຢູ່ຕໍ່ໜ້າຂ້ອຍໂດຍກົງ ແລ້ວກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂອ ຜູ້ເຜົາຜານສັດຕູ, ຂ້ອຍພໍໃຈໃນເຈົ້າ.» ຂະນະນັ້ນຊີ້ໃຫ້ເຫັນວ່າ ພຣະພອນທິບບໍ່ໄດ້ມາຈາກກຳລັງລ້ວນໆ ແຕ່ມາຈາກຄວາມໝັ້ນຄົງ ຄວາມກ້າຫານ ແລະເຈດຕະນາອັນມີວິໄນໃນການທົດສອບອັນຊອບທຳ.
अजुन उवाच
Divine approval follows steadfastness under trial: when one meets a righteous challenge with courage, self-control, and unwavering resolve, grace is bestowed—not as a reward for aggression, but for disciplined virtue proven in adversity.
Arjuna recounts that Śiva, identified as the trident-bearer (Śūlapāṇi), comes close on the battlefield and stands before him, declaring, “I am pleased with you,” marking the turning point where Arjuna’s ordeal culminates in divine recognition.