Shloka 60
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
नरेश्वर! उन्होंने मुझे सम्पूर्ण गान्धर्ववेद (संगीत-विद्या)-का अध्ययन कराया। राजन! वहाँ इन्द्रभवनमें अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंकी शिक्षा ग्रहण करते हुए मैं बड़े सम्मान और सुखसे रहने लगा। वहाँ सभी मनोवांछित पदार्थ मेरे लिये सुलभ थे। भरतश्रेष्ठ! मैं वहाँ कभी मनोहर गीत सुनता, कभी पर्याप्तरूपसे दिव्य वाद्योंका आनन्द लेता और कभी-कभी श्रेष्ठ अप्सराओंका नृत्य भी देख लेता था ।। तत् सर्वमनवज्ञाय तथ्यं विज्ञाय भारत | अत्यर्थ प्रतिगृह्माहमस्त्रेष्वेव व्यवस्थित:,भारत! इन समस्त सुख-सुविधाओंकी अवहेलना न करते हुए उन्हें स्वीकार करके भी मैं इनके असली रूपको जानकर--इनकी निःसारताको भलीभाँति समझकर अधिकतर अस्त्रोंके अभ्यासमें ही संलग्न रहता था। (गीत आदिमें कभी आसक्त नहीं हुआ)
arjuna uvāca | nareśvara! te māṃ samagra-gāndharvavedaṃ (saṅgīta-vidyāṃ) adhyāpayām āsuḥ | rājan! tatra indra-bhavane astrāṇāṃ śastrāṇāṃ ca śikṣāṃ gṛhṇan ahaṃ mahā-sammāna-sukhena nyavasam | tatra sarve manovāñchitāḥ padārthā mama sulabhā āsan | bharataśreṣṭha! ahaṃ tatra kadācit manohara-gītaṃ śṛṇomi, kadācit divya-vādyānāṃ paryāptaṃ rasaṃ bhuñje, kadācid api śreṣṭhāpsarasāṃ nṛtyaṃ paśyāmi || tat sarvam anavajñāya tathyaṃ vijñāya bhārata | atyarthaṃ pratigṛhṇāmi astrasv eva vyavasthitaḥ ||
Arjuna said: “O king, they had me thoroughly trained in the Gandharva-veda, the science of music. O ruler, while receiving instruction in weapons and arms in Indra’s celestial palace, I lived there with great honor and comfort. Everything I could wish for was readily available to me. Best of the Bharatas, at times I listened to enchanting songs, at times I delighted fully in divine instruments, and sometimes I even watched the dance of the foremost apsarases. Yet, without scorning these pleasures, and while accepting them, I understood their true nature and their lack of lasting substance; therefore I remained chiefly devoted to the practice of weapons.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
One may accept legitimate comforts without contempt, yet remain inwardly discerning and unattached; true excellence comes from prioritizing one’s duty (here, a kṣatriya’s disciplined training in weapons) over sensory entertainment.
Arjuna recounts his stay in Indra’s heavenly palace: he learns music (Gandharva-veda) and receives instruction in weapons, enjoys celestial arts and luxuries, but keeps his focus primarily on mastering astras and śastras.