Shloka 29
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
अर्णुर्ब॑हच्छिरा भूत्वा बृहच्चाणुशिरा: पुन: । एकीभूतस्तदा राजन् सो<भ्यवर्तत मां युधि
arṇur bahacchirā bhūtvā bṛhaccāṇuśirāḥ punaḥ | ekībhūtastadā rājan so 'bhyavartata māṃ yudhi |
اے راجن، کبھی وہ نہایت چھوٹا جسم اختیار کرتا اور اس کا سر بہت بڑا دکھائی دیتا؛ پھر کبھی وہ بہت بڑا جسم دھارتا اور سر چھوٹا نظر آتا۔ آخرکار وہ یکجا ہو کر ایک ہی صورت میں یُدھ میں میرا مقابلہ کرنے کے لیے آگے بڑھا۔
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights steadiness and discernment in conflict: even when an adversary changes form and creates confusion, a warrior must keep composure, assess the situation clearly, and respond with appropriate means rather than panic.
Arjuna reports to a king that his opponent repeatedly altered proportions—sometimes tiny-bodied with a huge head, sometimes huge-bodied with a tiny head—before finally consolidating into a single form and directly engaging Arjuna in battle.