Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 94: Sātyaki–Sudarśana Yuddha (सात्यकि–सुदर्शन युद्ध)
इत्युक्त्वा वरुण: प्रादाद् गदां मन्त्रपुरस्कृताम्
ity uktvā varuṇaḥ prādād gadāṃ mantrapuraskṛtām
संजय बोले—ऐसा कहकर वरुण ने मंत्रों से संस्कारित गदा प्रदान की।
संजय उवाच
Power in the epic is not merely physical; it is legitimized through dharmic and ritual sanction. A weapon ‘empowered by mantras’ signifies disciplined, authorized force rather than brute violence.
Sañjaya reports that Varuṇa, after speaking, grants a mace that has been ritually empowered by mantras, indicating a divinely sanctioned bestowal of martial capability within the war context.