Shloka 24
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
ततो5हमन्रुवं शक्रं प्रसीद भगवन् मम । आचार्य वरयेयं त्वामस्त्रार्थ त्रिदशेश्वर,तब मैंने देवराज इन्द्रसे कहा--“भगवन्! आप मुझपर प्रसन्न होइये। देवेश्वर! मैं अस्त्रविद्याकी प्राप्तिके लिये आपको अपना आचार्य बनाता हूँ
tato 'ham abruvaṁ śakraṁ prasīda bhagavan mama | ācāryaṁ varayiṣye 'haṁ tvām astrārthaṁ tridaśeśvara ||
Da wandte ich mich an Śakra (Indra): „Sei mir gnädig, o erhabener Herr. O Gebieter der Götter, um die göttlichen Waffen zu meistern, wähle ich dich zu meinem Lehrer.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power (astra-knowledge) is to be sought through humility, reverence, and rightful instruction. Arjuna does not demand weapons; he requests grace and formally accepts Indra as ācārya, placing skill under ethical discipline and legitimate authority.
Arjuna addresses Indra directly, asking him to be pleased and to accept the role of teacher so that Arjuna may learn the science and use of divine weapons—an essential preparation for the coming conflict, undertaken through proper tutelage.