Shloka 29
Adhyāya 22: Śālva’s Weapon-Shower, Dāruka’s Wounding, and the Māyā-Report of Vasudeva’s Father
आग्नेयमस्त्र दयितं सर्वसाहं महाप्रभम् । योजयं तत्र धनुषा दानवान्तकरं रणे,वीर! तत्पश्चात् मैंने दारुकसे कहा--'सारथे! दो घड़ी और ठहरो (फिर तुम्हारी इच्छा पूरी हो जायगी)।' तदनन्तर मैंने कहीं भी कुण्ठित न होनेवाले दिव्य, अभेद्य, अत्यन्त शक्तिशाली, सब कुछ सहन करनेमें समर्थ, प्रिय तथा परम कान्तिमान् आग्नेयास्त्रका अपने धनुषपर संधान किया। वह अस्त्र युद्धमें दानवोंका अन्त करनेवाला था
āgneyam astraṁ dayitaṁ sarvasāhaṁ mahāprabham | yojayaṁ tatra dhanuṣā dānavāntakaraṁ raṇe, vīra! tatpaścāt mayā dārukase kahā—‘sārathē! dve ghaḍī aura ṭhaharo (phir tumhārī icchā pūrī ho jāyagī).’ tadanantaram mayā kahīṁ bhī kuṇṭhita na honevāle divya, abhedya, atyanta śaktiśālī, sab kuch sahan karne meṁ samartha, priya tathā param kāntimān āgneyāstrakā apne dhanuṣ par sandhān kiyā | vah astra yuddh meṁ dānavoṁ kā anta karne vālā thā
Vāyu said: “I then set upon my bow the beloved Agneya weapon—unyielding, all-enduring, and of great splendor—an arm of tremendous might, famed for destroying the Dānavas in battle. After that I said to Dāruka, ‘Charioteer, wait just two more moments; then your wish will be fulfilled.’ Thereupon I fixed in place that divine, unbreakable, supremely powerful Agneya missile, never to be blunted anywhere, radiant and dear—an instrument meant to bring the Dānavas to their end in war.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights disciplined power: even when wielding overwhelming divine force, the speaker acts with deliberation—timing, clear intent, and controlled execution—suggesting that might in dharmic warfare must be guided by restraint and purpose rather than impulse.
Vāyu describes preparing and fixing the Agneya divine weapon on his bow, emphasizing its invincibility and battle potency against the Dānavas. He also instructs the charioteer Dāruka to wait briefly, indicating a strategic pause before unleashing the decisive weapon.