Shloka 78
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
मन्वाना देवराजं मां समाजम्मुर्विशाम्पते । दृष्टवा च मामपृच्छन्त कि करिष्यसि फाल्गुन,तत्पश्चात् मेरे गाण्डीव धनुषमें उन्होंने यह अटूट प्रत्यज्चा जोड़ दी। इस प्रकार युद्धकी सामग्रियोंसे सम्पन्न होकर उस तेजस्वी रथके द्वारा मैं संग्रामके लिये प्रस्थित हुआ, जिसपर आरूढ़ होकर पूर्वकालमें देवराजने विरोचनकुमार बलिको परास्त किया था। महाराज! तब उस रथकी घर्घराहटसे सजग हो सब देवता मुझे देवराज समझकर मेरे पास आये और मुझे देखकर पूछने लगे--'अर्जुन! तुम क्या करनेकी तैयारीमें हो?”
arjuna uvāca |
manvānā devarājaṃ māṃ samājam urviśāṃ pate |
dṛṣṭvā ca mām apṛcchanta kiṃ kariṣyasi phālguna ||
tataḥ paścāt me gāṇḍīva-dhanuṣi te 'nuttamāṃ pratyajñāṃ yojayām āsuḥ |
iti yuddha-sāmagrībhiḥ sampannaḥ sa tejasvī rathena saṃgrāmāya prasthitaḥ |
yam ārūḍhaḥ purā devarājo virocanakumāraṃ baliṃ parājitavān |
mahārāja! tadā tasya rathasya ghargharāvaśabdena prabuddhāḥ sarve devāḥ |
māṃ devarājam iti matvā samīpam ājagmuḥ |
dṛṣṭvā ca mām apṛcchan— “arjuna! tvaṃ kiṃ kartum udyataḥ?” ||
Arjuna said: “O lord of men, the assembled gods, taking me to be Indra, came near. Seeing me, they asked, ‘Phālguna, what do you intend to do?’ After that, they fitted onto my Gāṇḍīva bow an unbreakable bowstring. Thus equipped with the requisites of war, I set out for battle upon that radiant chariot—the very one on which, in former times, the king of the gods had defeated Bali, the son of Virocana. O king, awakened by the chariot’s rumbling roar, all the gods approached me, mistaking me for Indra; and on seeing me they inquired, ‘Arjuna, what action are you preparing to undertake?’
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights readiness for righteous action: when a warrior is equipped and committed to a just undertaking, even the divine realm responds. It also underscores humility and discernment—Arjuna is honored as Indra-like, yet he remains accountable for his own intention and purpose.
Arjuna, now armed and mounted on Indra’s famed chariot, sets out for battle. The gods, hearing the chariot’s roar and seeing him, mistake him for Indra and ask Arjuna what he is preparing to do.