Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
ततः प्रहस्य तद् भूतं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । सह स्त्रीभिर्महाराज पश्यतो मे<द्भधुतोपमम्
tataḥ prahasya tad bhūtaṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata | saha strībhiḥ mahārāja paśyato me adbhutopamam ||
Rồi sinh linh kỳ dị ấy bật cười và, ngay trước mắt tôi, biến mất tại chính nơi ấy—cùng với những người phụ nữ, tâu Đại vương.
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights the need for humility and discernment: not everything can be subdued by strength or impulse, and one should recognize when an event lies beyond ordinary control, responding with restraint rather than pride.
Arjuna reports that a wondrous, uncanny being laughed and vanished on the spot along with the women, disappearing before his very eyes, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the encounter.