Shloka 56

Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness

Nivātakavaca engagement

Devanagari script

दुरासदं दुष्प्रसहं सुरदानवराक्षसै: । अनुज्ञातस्त्वहं तेन तत्रैव समुपाविशम्‌

Transliteration

durāsadaṁ duṣprasahaṁ suradānavarākṣasaiḥ | anujñātas tv ahaṁ tena tatraiva samupāviśam |

Translation

ଅର୍ଜୁନ କହିଲେ—“ସେ (ଦିବ୍ୟ ଶକ୍ତି/ଅସ୍ତ୍ର) ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁରାସଦ ଓ ଦୁଷ୍ପ୍ରସହ—ଦେବ, ଦାନବ ଓ ରାକ୍ଷସମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମଧ୍ୟ। ତାଙ୍କର ଅନୁମତି ପାଇ ମୁଁ ସେଠାରେ ହିଁ ବସିଲି; ଏବଂ ମୋ ଚକ୍ଷୁ ସାମ୍ନାରେ ମହାଦେବ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଧାନ ହେଲେ।”

Word by Word

• दुरासदम्: hard to approach/assail
• दुरासदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• दुष्प्रसहम्: hard to withstand/overpower
• दुष्प्रसहम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्प्रसह
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सुर: by the gods
• सुर: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• दानव: by the demons (Dānavas)
• दानव: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• राक्षसैः: by the rākṣasas
• राक्षसैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अनुज्ञातः: having been permitted/authorized
• अनुज्ञातः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-ज्ञा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• समुपाविशम्: I sat down/ took a seat
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-विश्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Śiva
• Suras (gods)
• Dānavas
• Rākṣasas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even supreme power is not merely seized by strength; it is approached through discipline and humility, and is received only with divine sanction. The verse underscores restraint: what is irresistible to all beings must be handled under dharmic permission, not ego.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna describes the overwhelming, unendurable nature of the divine boon/weapon associated with Śiva. After Śiva grants him leave, Arjuna sits as instructed, and Śiva disappears from view.