Shloka 16
अर्जुनस्य इन्द्रकीलगमनम् तथा शक्रसाक्षात्कारः
Arjuna’s journey to Indrakīla and encounter with Indra
ततः प्रयाते कौन्तेये वनं मानुषवर्जितम् । शड़्खानां पटहानां च शब्द: समभवद् दिवि,तदनन्तर कुन्तीनन्दन अर्जुनके उस निर्जन वनमें पहुँचते ही आकाशमें शंखों और नगाड़ोंका गम्भीर घोष गूँज उठा
tataḥ prayāte kaunteye vanaṁ mānuṣavarjitam | śaṅkhānāṁ paṭahānāṁ ca śabdaḥ samabhavad divi ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Ketika Arjuna, putera Kuntī, telah berangkat dan sampai ke rimba itu yang sunyi tanpa manusia, terdengarlah di langit gemuruh yang dalam—bunyi sangkakala dan gendang besar. Itulah tanda yang menggetarkan namun agung, seolah-olah kuasa yang tidak kelihatan sedang menandai ketibaannya dan beratnya tugas yang dipikulnya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a dharmic undertaking by a disciplined hero is accompanied by signs that elevate the act beyond the merely personal. The celestial sound suggests that righteous effort draws the attention of higher powers and that major vows or quests carry moral and cosmic weight.
As Arjuna reaches an uninhabited forest, a powerful sound of conches and war-drums is heard in the sky. This functions as an omen or announcement, indicating the presence or acknowledgement of divine or unseen beings at the moment of his arrival.