Shloka 33
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
स्थूणाकर्णमथो जालं शरवर्षमथोल्बणम् | शलभास्त्रमश्मवर्ष समास्थायाहमभ्ययाम्,स्थूणाकर्ण5, वारुणास्त्र-, भयंकर शरवर्षास्त्रर, शलभास्त्र5<४ तथा अभ्मवर्ष४ इन अस्त्रोंका सहारा ले मैं उस किरातपर टूट पड़ा
sthūṇākarṇam atho jālaṁ śaravarṣam atholbaṇam | śalabhāstram aśmavarṣaṁ samāsthāyāham abhyayām ||
ارجن نے کہا—میں نے ستھوناکرن، جال، ہولناک تیروں کی بارش، شلبھاستر اور پتھروں کی بارش والے استر کا سہارا لے کر اُس کرات پر سیدھا دھاوا بول دیا۔
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a great warrior’s prowess is ultimately tested by a higher order of dharma: steadfast effort must be joined with humility, because the encounter is not merely combat but a divinely-structured trial of character and readiness.
Arjuna describes how he employed multiple astras—net-like restraint, arrow-showers, and stone-rain type weapons—and then charged at the Kirāta (hunter), intensifying the duel that culminates in recognizing the hunter’s divine nature.