Shloka 36

निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas

Vajra-astra deployment

Devanagari script

प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य समारोहं रथोत्तमम्‌ । भरतनन्दन! सहस्र नेत्रोंवाले देवराज इन्द्र तुम्हें देखना चाहते हैं।। मातलिके ऐसा कहनेपर मैं हिमालयसे आज्ञा ले रथकी परिक्रमा करके उस श्रेष्ठ रथमें सवार हुआ ।। ३५६ || चोदयामास स हयान्‌ मनोमारुतरंहस:

Transliteration

pradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya samārohaṁ rathottamam | bharatanandana sahasranetro devarāja indras tvāṁ draṣṭum icchati || mātalike iti ukte'haṁ himālayam ājñāpya rathasya pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā tasmin śreṣṭhe rathe samāruḍhaḥ || codayāmāsa sa hayān manomārutarāṁhasaḥ |

Translation

Arjuna said: “Having turned to make a respectful circumambulation, I mounted that excellent chariot. O descendant of Bharata, the thousand‑eyed lord of the gods, Indra, wishes to see you.” When Mātali spoke thus, I took leave of Himālaya, circled the chariot in reverence, and ascended that finest of cars. Then Mātali urged on the horses, swift as thought and as the wind—signaling that even a divine summons is to be met with humility, proper leave-taking, and disciplined readiness rather than haste or pride.

Word by Word

• प्रदक्षिणम्: clockwise (in circumambulation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रदक्षिण

• उपावृत्य: having circumambulated / having gone around
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-वृत्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• समारोहम्: mounting, ascent (act of mounting)
• समारोहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: समारोह
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• रथोत्तमम्: the best chariot
• रथोत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ-उत्तम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• चोदयामास: urged, drove on
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद्
• Form: लिट् (periphrastic perfect), perfect (narrative past), third, singular, परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• मनोमारुतरंहसः: swift as mind and wind
• मनोमारुतरंहसः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्-मारुत-रंहस्
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Bharatanandana)
• Indra
• Mātali
• Himālaya
• divine chariot (ratha)
• horses (hayāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when summoned by divine authority, one should act with dharmic decorum—show reverence (pradakṣiṇā), take proper leave of elders/hosts (ājñā), and proceed with disciplined readiness rather than arrogance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mātali informs that Indra wishes to see Arjuna. Arjuna respectfully circumambulates the chariot, takes leave of Himālaya, mounts the divine chariot, and Mātali drives the swift horses onward toward Indra.