Shloka 35

निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas

Vajra-astra deployment

Devanagari script

देवराज: सहस्ाक्षस्त्वां दिदृक्षति भारत । इत्युक्तो5हं मातलिना गिरिमामन्त्रय शैशिरम्‌

Transliteration

devarājaḥ sahasrākṣas tvāṁ didṛkṣati bhārata | ity ukto ’haṁ mātalinā girim āmantrya śaiśiram ||

Translation

Arjuna sprach: „O Bhārata, der König der Götter, Sahasrākṣa (Indra), wünscht dich zu sehen.“ So von Mātali angesprochen, nahm ich Abschied vom Berg Śaiśira und brach auf.

Word by Word

• देवराजः: the king of the gods (Indra)
• देवराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सहस्राक्षः: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• दिदृक्षति: wishes to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Lat

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्तः: having been told / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• मातलिना: by Mātali
• मातलिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• गिरिम्: the mountain
• गिरिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आमन्त्रय: invite / summon / address
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + मन्त्र्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada, Lot

• शैशिरम्: wintry; named Śaiśira
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैशिर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Indra (Devarāja, Sahasrākṣa)
• Mātali
• Bhārata (addressed person/lineage)
• Śaiśira mountain

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined responsiveness to rightful authority and courteous conduct: even when called to a higher, divine purpose, one proceeds by formally taking leave of one’s place and context, reflecting restraint and propriety.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna reports that Mātali, Indra’s charioteer, conveyed Indra’s wish to see him. After receiving this summons, Arjuna respectfully departs from the Śaiśira mountain to go meet Indra.