Shloka 831
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
रथेनानेन मघवा जितवान् शम्बरं युधि । नमुचिं बलवृत्रौ च प्रह्लादनरकावपि
rathenānena maghavā jitavān śambaraṃ yudhi | namuciṃ balavṛtrau ca prahlādanarakāv api ||
Arjuna said: “With this very chariot, Maghavān (Indra) conquered Śambara in battle; and he also overcame Namuci, the mighty Vṛtra, and even Prahlāda and Naraka. This chariot is thus remembered as an instrument of righteous victory over oppressive powers.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses Indra’s victories as an exemplar: rightful strength and divinely sanctioned means (symbolized by the chariot) are invoked to affirm confidence in confronting forces that threaten cosmic and social order.
Arjuna identifies a particular chariot as renowned, citing that Indra (Maghavān) used it to defeat famous adversaries—Śambara, Namuci, Vṛtra, Prahlāda, and Naraka—thereby emphasizing the chariot’s proven power and auspicious history.