Shloka 5
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
यथा दृष्टश्न॒ ते शक्रो भगवान् वा पिनाकधृक् । यथैवास्त्राण्यवाप्तानि यथैवाराधितश्ष ते
yathā dṛṣṭas tvaṁ te śakro bhagavān vā pinākadhṛk | yathaivāstrāṇy avāptāni yathaivārādhitaś ca te ||
毗湿摩耶那说：“降敌者啊，把一切如实道来——你如何得见释迦罗（因陀罗），或如何瞻仰那执持毗那迦的吉祥主（湿婆）；你如何获得天界兵器；你所行礼拜与奉神之事又如何圆满成就。并且因陀罗方才宣言：‘阿周那完成了我最钟爱的事业’——那件他所珍爱的差事，究竟是什么，被你办成了？”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that extraordinary power (divine weapons and victories) is grounded in disciplined devotion and rightful conduct: one gains divine support through proper worship, austerity, and fulfilling duties that serve a higher cosmic order rather than personal ambition.
Vaiśampāyana prompts a detailed account of Arjuna’s divine encounters—his visions of Indra and Śiva, his acquisition of celestial weapons, and the successful completion of his acts of propitiation—then asks specifically what ‘beloved task’ of Indra Arjuna has just accomplished.