Shloka 31
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
मदगतानि च जानीहि सर्वास्त्राणि कुरुद्वह । एवमुक्त्वा तु मां शक्रस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
madagatāni ca jānīhi sarvāstrāṇi kurudvaha | evam uktvā tu māṃ śakras tatraivāntaradhīyata ||
“Ketahuilah juga segala senjata yang telah bersemayam padaku, wahai yang terbaik di antara kaum Kuru.” Setelah berkata demikian kepadaku, Śakra (Indra) pun lenyap dari tempat itu juga.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power (especially martial or divine power) must be paired with knowledge and restraint. Indra’s instruction implies that possessing astras is not enough; one must truly understand them—how they are invoked, controlled, and ethically governed.
Indra addresses Arjuna, urging him to learn/recognize all the astras that have been entrusted to him. After giving this directive, Indra immediately vanishes from the place, marking the completion of a divine encounter and the transition of responsibility to Arjuna.