Shloka 45
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
निवातकववचा नाम दैत्या विबुधविद्विष: । शक्राज्ञया महाबाहुस्तान् वधिष्यति ते सुत:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | nivātakavacā nāma daityā vibudhavidviṣaḥ | śakrājñayā mahābāhus tān vadhiṣyati te sutaḥ |
વૈશમ્પાયન બોલ્યા— ‘નિવાતકવચ’ નામના દૈત્યો દેવતાઓના નિત્ય શત્રુ છે. ઇન્દ્રની આજ્ઞાથી તારો આ મહાબાહુ પુત્ર તેમનો વધ કરશે.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames warfare as legitimate when undertaken under rightful authority to protect the gods’ order against persistent aggressors; power is not merely physical but aligned with higher sanction and responsibility.
Vaiśampāyana identifies the Nivātakavaca Daityas as enemies of the gods and foretells that the listener’s mighty-armed son, acting on Indra’s command, will destroy them.