Shloka 66

निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas

Vajra-astra deployment

Devanagari script

ब्र्मण्यश्षास्त्रविच्चासि शूरश्चासि कुरूद्वह । अस्त्राणि समवाप्तानि त्वया दश च पञ्त च,“वीर! अस्त्र-युद्धमें तुम्हारा सामना कर सके, ऐसा कोई योद्धा नहीं होगा। कुरुश्रेष्ठ! तुम सर्वदा सावधान रहते हो, प्रत्येक कार्यमें कुशल हो, जितेन्द्रिय, सत्यवादी और ब्राह्मणभक्त हो; तुम्हें अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका ज्ञान है और तुम अद्भुत शौर्यसे सम्पन्न हो। पार्थ! तुमने पाँच विधियोंसहित पंद्रह अस्त्र प्राप्त किये हैं, अतः इस भूतलपर तुम्हारे-जैसा शूर दूसरा कोई नहीं है। परंतप धनंजय! प्रयोग, उपसंहार, आवृत्ति, प्रायश्चित्त- और प्रतिघातर --ये अस्त्रोंकी पाँच विधियाँ हैं; तुम इन सबका पूर्ण ज्ञान प्राप्त कर चुके हो। अत: अब गुरुदक्षिणा देनेका समय आ गया है

Transliteration

brāhmaṇyaś ca śāstravic cāsi śūraś cāsi kurūdvaha | astrāṇi samavāptāni tvayā daśa ca pañca ca ||

Translation

Arjuna said: “You are devoted to the Brahmins and learned in the sacred sciences; you are also a hero, O best of the Kurus. You have fully mastered weapons—ten and five besides. In battle, no warrior could truly stand against you. Ever vigilant, skilled in every undertaking, self-controlled, truthful, and reverent toward Brahmins, you possess both knowledge of arms and extraordinary valor. Having obtained fifteen weapons together with their five modes—application, withdrawal, repetition, expiation, and counteraction—you have completed your training; therefore the time has come to offer the teacher’s fee.”

Word by Word

ब्राह्मण्यःdevoted to Brahmins / pious

शास्त्रवित्knower of the scriptures/teachings

चand

असिyou are

शूरःa hero, brave one

चand

असिyou are

कुरूद्वहO best of the Kurus

अस्त्राणिweapons (missiles/arms)

समवाप्तानिobtained, acquired

त्वयाby you

दशten

चand

पञ्चfive

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna (Pārtha, Dhanañjaya)

Kuru lineage (Kurūdvaha)

Brahmins (brāhmaṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True mastery of power (astra-vidyā) is inseparable from ethical discipline: vigilance, self-control, truthfulness, reverence for learned tradition, and knowledge of not only how to deploy weapons but also how to withdraw, repeat responsibly, atone for misuse, and counteract harm. The verse also underscores the duty of gratitude through guru-dakṣiṇā after completing training.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna addresses his counterpart with formal praise, declaring him fully trained in weaponry—fifteen weapons along with the five operational modes. This functions as a narrative marker that the period of instruction is complete and that the next step is to render guru-dakṣiṇā, the traditional teacher’s fee or service.