Shloka 4
Arjuna’s Self-Identification and the Ten Names
Uttara–Arjuna Saṃvāda
चण्डाश्न वाता: संवान्ति रूक्षा: शर्करवर्षिण: | भस्मवर्णप्रकाशेन तमसा संवृतं नभ:,“इस समय कंकड़ बरसानेवाली प्रचण्ड एवं रूखी हवा चल रही है। राखके समान रंगवाले अन्धकारसे आकाश आच्छादित हो रहा है
caṇḍāśnā vātāḥ saṃvānti rūkṣāḥ śarkaravarṣiṇaḥ | bhasmavarṇaprakāśena tamasā saṃvṛtaṃ nabhaḥ ||
चण्डाशना वाताः संवान्ति रूक्षाः शर्करवर्षिणः । भस्मवर्णप्रकाशेन तमसा संवृतं नभः ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses ominous natural imagery to signal moral and narrative tension: when adharma and impending conflict gather strength, the world is portrayed as unsettled, reminding the listener to read events ethically and remain steady in dharma amid turbulence.
Vaiśampāyana describes a sudden, harsh atmospheric change—violent winds and an ashen darkness covering the sky—functioning as a foreboding sign that a significant and potentially dangerous turn of events is near in the Virāṭa narrative.