Shloka 22
Kubera-prasāda-vihāra and Counsel on Ajñātavāsa (कुबेरप्रसादविहारः तथा अज्ञातवासोपदेशः)
ततो मातलिना सार्धमहं तत् पुरम भ्ययाम् । त्रासयन् रथघोषेण निवातकवचस्त्रिय:,तब मैं मातलिके साथ रथकी घर्घराहटसे निवातकवचोंकी स्त्रियोंको भयभीत करता हुआ उस दैत्य-नगरमें गया
tato mātalinā sārdham ahaṃ tat puraṃ abhyayām | trāsayan rathaghoṣeṇa nivātakavaca-striyaḥ ||
Entonces, acompañado de Mātali, avancé hacia aquella ciudad. Con el estruendo atronador de mi carro, sembré el terror en las mujeres de los demonios Nivātakavaca, al entrar en esa urbe de asuras.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic heroism supported by divine cooperation: Arjuna, aligned with Indra’s charioteer, advances against adharma. It also shows that in righteous conflict, psychological force (creating fear through the chariot’s roar) can function as a strategic tool when directed toward defeating destructive powers.
Arjuna, speaking in the first person, says that he went with Mātali into the demon-city associated with the Nivātakavacas. As he entered, the loud sound of his chariot frightened the women there, marking his bold arrival and the escalation toward battle.