Shloka 4
निवातकवचैः सह अर्जुनस्य रथयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s chariot engagement with the Nivātakavacas
(रवोन्मुखास्ते ददृशु: प्रीयमाणा: कुरूद्गवहा: । मरुद्धिरन्वितं शक्रमापतन्तं विहायसा ।।) ते समन्तादनुययुर्गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणा: । विमानै: सूर्यसंकाशैदेंवराजमरिंदमम्,पाण्डवोंने प्रसन्नतापूर्वक उस ध्वनिकी ओर आँख उठाकर देखा, तो उन्हें देवराज इन्द्र दृष्टिगोचर हुए जो सम्पूर्ण मर्द्गण आदि देवताओंके साथ आकाशमार्गसे आ रहे थे। गन्धर्वों और अप्सराओंके समूह सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी विमानोंद्वारा शत्रुदमन देवराजको चारों ओरसे घेरकर उन्हींके पथका अनुसरण कर रहे थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
ravonmukhās te dadṛśuḥ prīyamāṇāḥ kurūdgvahāḥ |
marudbhir anvitaṃ śakram āpatantaṃ vihāyasā ||
te samantād anuyayuḥ gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ |
vimānaiḥ sūryasaṃkāśair devarājam ariṃdamam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The foremost of the Kurus, delighted, lifted their eyes toward the sound and beheld Śakra (Indra) approaching through the sky, accompanied by the Maruts. All around him, companies of Gandharvas and Apsarases followed his path, surrounding the enemy-subduing king of the gods in radiant aerial chariots shining like the sun.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that divine power and protection align with righteousness: Indra’s majestic arrival, attended by Maruts and celestial beings, signals cosmic endorsement and reassurance to the virtuous, reminding listeners that dharmic struggle is not isolated from the moral order of the universe.
Hearing a great sound, the Kuru heroes (the Pāṇḍavas) look up joyfully and see Indra approaching through the sky with the Maruts. Gandharvas and Apsarases surround and follow him in brilliant, sun-like aerial chariots, forming a grand celestial procession.