Shloka 164
अर्जुनस्य निवातकवचवधाय नियोगः
Arjuna’s commissioning for the Nivātakavacas
इधर अर्जुनने इन्द्र-भवनमें पाँच वर्ष रहकर देवेश्वर इन्द्रसे सम्पूर्ण दिव्यास्त्र प्राप्त कर लिये। इस प्रकार अग्नि, वरुण, सोम, वायु, विष्णु, इन्द्र, पशुपति, ब्रह्मा, परमेष्ठी, प्रजापति, यम, धाता, सविता, त्वष्टा तथा कुबेरसम्बन्धी अस्त्रोंको भी देवेन्द्रसे ही प्राप्त करके उन्हें प्रणाम किया। तदनन्तर उनसे अपने भाइयोंके पास लौटनेकी आज्ञा पाकर उनकी परिक्रमा करके अर्जुन बड़े प्रसन्न हुए और हर्षोल्लासमें भरकर गन्धमादनपर आये ।। इति श्रीमहा भारते वनपर्वणि यक्षयुद्धपर्वण्यर्जुनाभिगमने चतुःषष्ट्यधिकशततमो<ध्याय:
iha arjunena indra-bhavane pañca varṣāṇi uṣitvā deveśvara-indrāt samagrāṇi divyāstrāṇi prāptāni. evaṃ agni-varuṇa-soma-vāyu-viṣṇu-indra-paśupati-brahmā-parameṣṭhi-prajāpati-yama-dhātā-savitā-tvaṣṭā-kubera-sambandhīni astrāṇy api devendrād eva prāpya taṃ praṇamya. tadanantaram tebhyaḥ sva-bhrātṝṇāṃ samīpaṃ pratigantum ājñāṃ labdhvā teṣāṃ parikramāṃ kṛtvā arjunaḥ paramānandaṃ prāpa; harṣollāsena pūrṇaḥ san gandhamādanaṃ pratyāgacchat.
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Arjuna lived in Indra’s celestial abode for five years and received from Indra, lord of the gods, the complete set of divine weapons. In this way he obtained—through Devendra himself—missiles and weapons associated with Agni, Varuṇa, Soma, Vāyu, Viṣṇu, Indra, Paśupati, Brahmā, Parameṣṭhin, Prajāpati, Yama, Dhātā, Savitṛ, Tvaṣṭṛ, and Kubera, and he bowed to Indra in reverence. Thereafter, granted permission to return to his brothers, Arjuna circumambulated Indra in respect, became filled with joy and exhilaration, and came back to Gandhamādana. The episode underscores that power is to be sought through discipline and rightful authority, and that even the mightiest warrior remains bound to humility, gratitude, and duty toward family.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and skill, even when divinely granted, must be approached through discipline, rightful permission, and humility. Arjuna’s reverence (praṇāma, parikramā) frames martial empowerment as ethically bounded—received for dharma and service, not for pride.
Arjuna completes a five-year stay in Indra’s celestial abode, receives a full array of divine weapons associated with multiple deities through Indra, pays respects, obtains leave to return, and comes back joyfully to Gandhamādana to rejoin his brothers.