Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
ततः प्रज्वलितैर्बाणै: सर्वतः सोपचीयते । उपचीयमानश्न मया महास्त्रेण व्यवर्धत
tataḥ prajvalitair bāṇaiḥ sarvataḥ sopacīyate | upacīyamānaś ca mayā mahāstreṇa vyavardhata |
随即,那兵器在烈焰般的箭矢推动下,向四方膨胀蔓延。我又以我的大神矢催发它,它便愈发增长——威势更盛,扩散更疾。
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights how violence and weapon-power can rapidly escalate once initiated and further propelled by human intent. It implicitly points to the ethical need for restraint and discernment (especially for a kṣatriya), because an unleashed force tends to grow beyond easy control.
Arjuna describes a weapon-force that, driven by blazing arrows, expands in all directions. When he applies his own great astra to spur it, the weapon intensifies further, increasing in speed and magnitude.