Shloka 16

Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness

Nivātakavaca engagement

Devanagari script

द्वितीयश्षापि मे मासो जल॑ भक्षयतो गत: । निराहारस्तृतीये5थ मासे पाण्डवनन्दन

Transliteration

dvitīyaś cāpi me māso jala-bhakṣayato gataḥ | nirāhāras tṛtīye 'tha māse pāṇḍava-nandana |

Translation

Arjuna nói: “Tháng thứ hai của ta cũng trôi qua khi ta chỉ sống bằng nước. Rồi, hỡi niềm vui của dòng Pāṇḍava, sang tháng thứ ba ta hoàn toàn tuyệt thực. Thế nhưng, ngay dưới khổ hạnh ấy, sức lực của ta vẫn không suy giảm—thật là điều kỳ lạ.”

Word by Word

• द्वितीयः: second
• द्वितीयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• मे: of me/my
• मे: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• मासः: month
• मासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भक्षयतः: of (me) consuming/eating
• भक्षयतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• गतः: gone/passed
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Pāṇḍava-nandana (epithet used in address)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) and steadfast self-control: disciplined restraint can sustain resolve and inner strength, and extraordinary endurance is portrayed as a fruit of determined practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna describes the progression of his austerities over months—first living on minimal sustenance (water), then complete fasting—emphasizing that despite the severity of the vow his strength did not diminish, underscoring the intensity and efficacy of his penance.