Shloka 4
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
सम्यग वा ते गृहीतानि कच्चिदस्त्राणि पाण्डव । कच्चित् सुराधिप: प्रीतो रुद्रो वास्त्राण्यदात् तव
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
samyag vā te gṛhītāni kaccid astrāṇi pāṇḍava |
kaccit surādhipaḥ prīto rudro vā astrāṇy adāt tava ||
毗湿摩耶那说：“般度之子啊，你所受得的兵器，可曾真正熟练掌握？诸天之主因陀罗，或是鲁陀罗，若对你欢喜，可曾赐你天界神矢？”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power (astrāṇi) must be rightly acquired and mastered (samyak gṛhītāni), and its legitimate use depends on divine and ethical sanction—symbolized by Indra and Rudra granting weapons only when pleased (prītaḥ).
Vaiśampāyana reports an inquiry addressed to the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna): whether he has properly learned the weapons and whether Indra or Rudra, satisfied with him, has bestowed divine missiles—signaling readiness for the coming conflict.