Shloka 55
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
उत्सादनममित्राणां परसेनानिकर्तनम्
utsādanam amitrāṇāṁ parasenānikartanam | vah śatrūṇāṁ saṁhārakaḥ ca vipakṣīyāṇāṁ senāyāḥ vidhvaṁsakaḥ | tasya prāptiḥ bahu duṣkarā | devatā dānava tathā rākṣasānām api kasya cit tasya vegaḥ soḍhum atyantaṁ duṣkaraḥ | punaḥ bhagavataḥ śivasya ājñayā ahaṁ tatraiva upaviṣṭaḥ, te ca mama paśyataḥ paśyataḥ antardhānaṁ gatāḥ ||
Arjuna disse: “É um poder que esmaga os inimigos e abate os exércitos adversários — verdadeiro matador de oponentes e destruidor de forças hostis. Obtê-lo é extremamente difícil. Até deuses, Dānavas e Rākṣasas mal conseguem suportar seu ímpeto irresistível. Então, por ordem do Senhor Śiva, permaneci sentado ali, e diante dos meus próprios olhos eles desapareceram da vista.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power—especially war-winning force—must be approached with humility and discipline; even when granted or revealed, it remains difficult to obtain and dangerous to withstand, and the righteous response is obedience to divine instruction rather than pride.
Arjuna describes a formidable, army-destroying power whose force even celestial and demonic beings can hardly bear. After Śiva issues a command, Arjuna stays seated, and the beings present disappear before his eyes.