Shloka 14

Devanagari script

ततो निवातकवचा: सर्व एव स्वलंकृता: । दंशिता विविधैस्त्राणैविचित्रायुधपाणय:,भारत! तदनन्तर निवातकवचनामक सभी दैत्य आभूषणोंसे विभूषित हो भाँति- भाँतिके कवच धारण किये, हाथोंमें विचित्र आयुध लिये, लोहेके बने हुए बड़े-बड़े शूल, गदा, मुसल, पट्टिश, करवाल, रथ-चक्र, शतघ्नी (तोप), भुशुण्डि (बंदूक) तथा रत्नजटित विचित्र खड़ग आदि लेकर सहस्रोंकी संख्यामें नगरसे बाहर आये

Transliteration

tato nivātakavacāḥ sarva eva svalankṛtāḥ | daṃśitā vividhaiḥ trāṇaiḥ vicitrāyudhapāṇayaḥ, bhārata |

Translation

Arjuna said: “Then all the Nivātakavaca demons, fully adorned, having strapped on varied armours and bearing diverse weapons in their hands, came forth.” In the narrative frame, this signals the organized, deliberate mustering of hostile forces—an escalation that tests the warrior’s steadiness and discernment in the face of intimidating display.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

निवातकवचाःthe Nivātakavacas (lit. those having windless/firm armor; name of a group)

सर्वेall

एवindeed, just

स्वलङ्कृताःwell-adorned

दंशिताःarmored, protected (lit. fitted/covered)

विविधैःwith various

त्राणैःprotections, armors

विचित्रvariegated, strange

आयुधweapon

पाणयःhands (as possessors)

भारतO Bhārata

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Nivātakavaca (demons/daityas)

armour (trāṇa)

weapons (āyudha)

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?

The verse highlights how outward splendour—ornaments, armour, and an array of weapons—can be used to project power and intimidate. Ethically, it points to the need for inner steadiness and clear judgment: a warrior must not be swayed by display but respond according to duty and right discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna describes the Nivātakavaca demons assembling in full martial array. They are ornamented, armoured, and armed with varied weapons, indicating that a major confrontation is imminent and that the opponents are organized and ready for battle.