Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
न चैनमशकं हन्तुं हल 0 खा भवत् | तस्मिन् प्रतिहते चास्त्रे मे महानभूत्,किंतु उससे भी उसका वध न कर सका। यह एक अद्भुत-सी घटना हुई। वायव्यास्त्रके निष्फल हो जानेपर मुझे महान् आश्चर्य हुआ
arjuna uvāca | na cainam aśakaṁ hantuṁ vāyavyāstreṇa bhārata | tasmin pratihate cāstre me mahad abhavad āścaryam |
阿周那说道:“噢婆罗多,即便以风之神兵,我也不能杀死他。而当那神矢被阻遏、化为无效之时,我心中生起极大的惊异。这确是非同寻常之事——纵我竭尽全力,仍不能令其毙命。”
अजुन उवाच
Even the mightiest warrior and the most potent divine weapons can meet limits; the episode highlights humility before higher powers and the ethical recognition that victory is not guaranteed by force alone.
Arjuna reports that he attempted to kill an opponent using the Vāyavyāstra, but the weapon was countered and became ineffective; this unexpected failure fills him with great astonishment.