Shloka 40
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
व्यायामं मुष्टिभि: कृत्वा तलैरपि समागतै: । अपाययंश्व तद् भूत॑ निश्रचेष्टमगमं महीम्
vyāyāmaṁ muṣṭibhiḥ kṛtvā talair api samāgataiḥ | apāyayaṁś ca tad bhūtaṁ niśceṣṭam agamaṁ mahīm ||
阿周那说道：“我与那存在扭打相搏，近身之时以拳击之、以掌击之；然而我终不能将其制伏。被其压倒，我浑身僵直，倒卧于地。随后，陛下啊，那奇异之者大笑着，在我眼前与诸女一同当场消失。”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a great warrior’s strength has limits; the episode underscores humility and discernment—physical force alone cannot master every situation, especially when confronting the uncanny or divinely protected.
Arjuna describes a close-quarters struggle in which he strikes with fists and palms but fails to subdue a supernatural being; he is rendered helpless and falls, after which the being laughs and vanishes along with the women present.