Shloka 236
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
इहस्थ: पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ तप: कुर्वन् सुदुष्करम् । “मेरी आज्ञासे मातलि तुम्हें स्वर्गमें पहुँचा देगा। पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ! यहाँ रहकर जो तुम अत्यन्त दुष्कर तप कर रहे हो, इसके कारण देवताओं तथा महात्मा मुनियोंमें तुम्हारी ख्याति बहुत बढ़ गयी है”
ihasthaḥ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha tapaḥ kurvan suduṣkaram | “merī ājñāse mātali tumheṃ svargameṃ pahuṃcā degā | pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha! yahāṃ rahkar jo tum atyanta duṣkara tap kar rahe ho, iske kāraṇa devatāoṃ tathā mahātmā muniyoṃ meṃ tumhārī khyāti bahut baṛh gayī hai”
Arjuna said: “O best of the Pāṇḍavas, while you remain here performing an exceedingly difficult austerity, know this: by my command Mātali will convey you to heaven. Because of the severe penance you are undertaking here, your renown has greatly increased among the gods and among the great-souled sages.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Severe, disciplined austerity (tapas) generates moral-spiritual merit that becomes recognized even in higher realms; righteous effort attracts divine support, and fame here signifies acknowledged virtue rather than mere worldly praise.
Arjuna addresses the foremost Pāṇḍava, praising his arduous penance performed while staying in the present place, and states that Mātali—acting under Arjuna’s command—will convey him to Svarga; the speaker notes that this tapas has increased the hero’s renown among gods and great sages.