Shloka 81
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
इस रथके द्वारा इन्द्रने युद्धमें शम्बरासुरपर विजय पायी है। नमुचि, बल, वृत्र, प्रह्नाद और नरकासुरको परास्त किया है
anena rathena indreṇa yuddhe śambarāsure parājayaḥ kṛtaḥ | namuciṃ balaṃ vṛtraṃ prahrādaṃ ca narakāsuraṃ ca parājitaṃ kṛtam |
Arjuna sprach: „Mit eben diesem Wagen errang Indra im Kampf den Sieg über den Dämon Śambara. Mit ihm bezwang er auch Namuci, Bala, Vṛtra, Prahrāda und Narakāsura.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and weapons gain ethical legitimacy when they are remembered as instruments used to restrain adharma—forces that harm the world. By invoking Indra’s victories, the verse frames martial capability as justified when aligned with protection of order and the defeat of oppressive violence.
Arjuna identifies the chariot and praises its proven might by recalling Indra’s past battles in which major asuras were defeated. The recollection elevates the chariot’s status and signals confidence grounded in precedent and divine association.