Shloka 20
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
अनु तस्यापरं भूतं महत् कैरातसंस्थितम् । भधनुर्बाणासिमत् प्राप्तं सत्रीगणानुगतं तदा,उसके पीछे किरात-जैसी आकृतिमें एक महान् पुरुषका दर्शन हुआ। उसने धनुष-बाण और खड्ग ले रखे थे। उसके साथ स्त्रियोंका एक समुदाय भी था
anu tasyāparaṃ bhūtaṃ mahat kairātasaṃsthitam | dhanurbāṇāsimat prāptaṃ strīgaṇānugataṃ tadā ||
அதன் பின்னால் கிராதன் போன்ற வேடத்தில் ஒரு மகத்தான புருஷன் தோன்றினான். அவன் வில்-அம்புகளும் வாளும் ஏந்தியிருந்தான்; அப்போது அவனுடன் பெண்கள் கூட்டமும் இருந்தது.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores discernment (viveka) in dharma: extraordinary powers may appear in humble or deceptive forms, and a hero must judge by conduct and context rather than outward appearance. In the forest setting, the encounter also signals that strength and weapons should be governed by restraint and right understanding.
Arjuna reports seeing, behind the first figure, a mighty being who looks like a Kirāta hunter, armed with bow, arrows, and sword, and accompanied by a group of women. This description sets up a significant confrontation/meeting where a divine presence is approached through a worldly, forest-hunter guise.