Shloka 59
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
सुखं शक्रस्य भवने सर्वकामसमन्वित: । शृण्वन् वै गीतशब्दं च तूर्यशब्दं च पुष्कलम् । पश्यंश्षाप्सरस: श्रेष्ठा नृत्यन्तीर्भरतर्षभ
arjuna uvāca | sukhaṁ śakrasya bhavane sarvakāmasamanvitaḥ | śṛṇvan vai gītaśabdaṁ ca tūryaśabdaṁ ca puṣkalam | paśyan śāp-sarasaḥ śreṣṭhā nṛtyantīr bharatarṣabha ||
Arjuna sprach: „In Śakras himmlischem Palast, erfüllt von allen Wonnen, lebt man in Leichtigkeit—man hört Gesang und den reichen Klang der Instrumente und schaut die erlesensten Apsaras tanzen, o Stier unter den Bhāratas.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the allure of celestial pleasure—music, luxury, and sensual beauty—implicitly setting up an ethical contrast often explored in the epic: whether one should be captivated by enjoyment or remain steady in higher aims such as duty, self-mastery, and purposeful striving.
Arjuna describes the delights of Indra’s abode: complete comfort, the sounds of singing and instruments, and the sight of eminent Apsarases dancing—painting a vivid picture of svarga-like splendor addressed to a Bharata hero.