Shloka 48
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
ततः प्राञज्जलिरेवाहमस्त्रेषु गतमानस:
tataḥ prāñjalir evāham astreṣu gatamānasaḥ | manasā śaṅkaraṃ devaṃ praṇamyaivam abhāṣata || yadi me bhagavān tuṣṭaḥ syāt tad varam imaṃ vṛṇe | devatānāṃ yathā divyāny astrāṇi santi tāny aham | jñātum icchāmi sarvāṇi || etac chrutvā bhagavān śaṅkara uvāca | pāṇḍunandana sarvadivyāstraprāptim te varaṃ dadāmi ||
于是我合掌而立，心神尽系于兵器及其奥秘。于内心中我向圣主商羯罗（Śaṅkara）顶礼而言：“若蒙至尊垂悦，我所求之愿乃是——诸天所藏一切神圣飞矢与兵器，我愿尽皆知晓。”商羯罗闻之答曰：“噢，般度之子，我赐你得获一切天界神兵之福。”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power—especially martial power—should be sought through humility, self-control, and rightful purpose. Arjuna’s request is framed as a disciplined, sanctioned pursuit (learning divine astras) rather than ego-driven domination, and Śiva’s granting of the boon implies responsibility and ethical restraint in its use.
Arjuna, intent on acquiring divine weapons for the coming conflict, folds his hands and mentally bows to Śiva. He asks to learn all celestial weapons possessed by the gods. Śiva responds by granting him the boon of obtaining all divine astras.