Shloka 8
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
यच्चापि वज्पाणेस्तु प्रियं कृतमरिंदम । एतदाख्याहि मे सर्वमखिलेन धनंजय
yaccāpi vajrapāṇes tu priyaṁ kṛtam arindama | etad ākhyāhi me sarvam akhilena dhanañjaya ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó subjugador de inimigos, Dhanañjaya, conta-me por inteiro e em detalhe qual feito agradável realizaste para Indra, o portador do raio (vajra). Desejo ouvir o relato completo, sem faltar nada.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical value of truthful, complete narration and the recognition that heroic action gains meaning when aligned with higher purpose—here, a deed that earns divine approval and is worth recounting in full.
Vaiśampāyana prompts Arjuna (addressed as Dhanañjaya, ‘crusher of foes’) to recount in detail the specific act he performed that pleased Indra, the thunderbolt-wielder, setting up a fuller description of Arjuna’s divine encounters and accomplishments.