Shloka 24
अग्निभय-प्रसङ्गे मन्दपालस्य शोकः
Mandapāla’s Lament amid the Threat of Fire
आग्नेयमस्त्रं दयितं स च कल्यो5भवत् तदा । अब्रवीत् पावकश्चैवमेतेन मधुसूदन,उस अभम्निप्रदत्त प्रिय अस्त्र चक्रको पाकर भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण भी उस समय सहायताके लिये समर्थ हो गये। उनसे अग्निदेवने कहा--“मधुसूदन! इस चक्रके द्वारा आप युद्धमें अमानव प्राणियोंको भी जीत लेंगे, इसमें संशय नहीं है। इसके होनेसे आप युद्धमें मनुष्यों, देवताओं, राक्षसों, पिशाचों, दैत्यों और नागोंसे भी अधिक शक्तिशाली होंगे तथा इन सबका संहार करनेमें भी निःसंदेह सर्वश्रेष्ठ सिद्ध होंगे
āgneyam astraṁ dayitaṁ sa ca kalyo 'bhavat tadā | abravīt pāvakaś caivam etena madhusūdana ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “The beloved Agneya weapon became ready at that time. Then Pāvaka (Agni) spoke thus to Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa): ‘With this, you will prevail in battle even over non-human beings; there is no doubt. Possessing it, you will be mightier in war than humans, gods, rākṣasas, piśācas, daityas, and nāgas, and you will assuredly prove the foremost in bringing about their destruction.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power (divine weaponry) is portrayed as effective but morally weighty: it grants supremacy over many classes of beings, implying that such force must be wielded with discernment and for rightful protection rather than mere domination.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Agni’s favored weapon becomes ready, and Agni addresses Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana), assuring him that with this weapon he will be able to defeat even non-human adversaries and surpass gods, demons, spirits, and serpent-beings in battle.