Shloka 18

अर्जुनस्य निवातकवचवधाय नियोगः

Arjuna’s commissioning for the Nivātakavacas

Devanagari script

आग्नेयं वारुणं सौम्यं वायव्यमथ वैष्णवम्‌ | ऐन्द्रं पाशुपतं ब्राह्मंं पारमेष्ठ्यं प्रजापते:

Transliteration

āgneyam vāruṇaṃ saumyaṃ vāyavyam atha vaiṣṇavam | aindraṃ pāśupataṃ brāhmaṃ pārameṣṭhyaṃ prajāpateḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “(He enumerated) the divine powers and weapons—those of Agni, Varuṇa, Soma, and Vāyu; then that of Viṣṇu; that of Indra; the Pāśupata (of Śiva); the Brahma-weapon; and the supreme, Prajāpati-born (Pārameṣṭhya) power.” In context, the verse underscores that true might in the epic is not merely physical strength but the disciplined, dharmic mastery of sacred forces, each tied to a cosmic guardian and therefore to responsibility in their use.

Word by Word

• आग्नेयम्: Agni-related (weapon/astram)
• आग्नेयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वारुणम्: Varuṇa-related
• वारुणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारुण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सौम्यम्: Soma-related
• सौम्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वायव्यम्: Vāyu-related
• वायव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायव्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then/and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• वैष्णवम्: Viṣṇu-related
• वैष्णवम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ऐन्द्रम्: Indra-related
• ऐन्द्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पाशुपतम्: Paśupati (Śiva)-related
• पाशुपतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्राह्मम्: Brahmā-related / Brahma-weapon
• ब्राह्मम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पारमेष्ठ्यम्: of the Supreme (Paramēṣṭhin/Brahmā)-related
• पारमेष्ठ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारमेष्ठ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Agni
• Varuṇa
• Soma
• Vāyu
• Viṣṇu
• Indra
• Śiva (Pāśupati)
• Brahmā (Parameṣṭhin)
• Prajāpati
• Divine weapons (astra)