Shloka 8
अर्जुनस्य निवातकवचवधाय नियोगः
Arjuna’s commissioning for the Nivātakavacas
स्वतेजसा तस्य नगोत्तमस्य महौषधीनां च तथा प्रभावात् । विभक्तभावो न बभूव कश्रि- दहोनिशानां पुरुषप्रवीर,वीरवर जनमेजय! पर्वतराज गन्धमादनके अपने तेजसे तथा वहाँकी तेजस्विनी महौषधियोंके प्रभावसे वहाँ सदा प्रकाश व्याप्त रहनेके कारण दिन-रातका कोई विभाग नहीं हो पाता था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca |
svatejasā tasya nagottamasya mahauṣadhīnāṃ ca tathā prabhāvāt |
vibhaktabhāvo na babhūva kaścid ahoniśānāṃ puruṣapravīra, vīravara janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Janamejaya yang gagah, insan terunggul! Dengan sinar semula jadi gunung yang terunggul itu dan dengan daya herba-herba agung yang bercahaya di sana, seluruh kawasan dipenuhi cahaya yang berterusan; maka tiadalah dapat dibezakan siang dan malam.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that certain sacred or extraordinary places are described as permeated by inherent radiance and potent natural forces, making ordinary distinctions—like day and night—irrelevant. Ethically and narratively, such descriptions signal a realm suited for tapas (austerity), restraint, and heightened awareness, where worldly measures give way to a more elevated order.
Vaiśampāyana is describing the mountain Gandhamādana to King Janamejaya. He explains that the mountain’s own brilliance, together with the power of radiant herbs there, keeps the area continually illuminated, so one cannot tell day from night.