Shloka 81
निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas
Vajra-astra deployment
इस रथके द्वारा इन्द्रने युद्धमें शम्बरासुरपर विजय पायी है। नमुचि, बल, वृत्र, प्रह्नाद और नरकासुरको परास्त किया है
anena rathena indreṇa yuddhe śambarāsure parājayaḥ kṛtaḥ | namuciṃ balaṃ vṛtraṃ prahrādaṃ ca narakāsuraṃ ca parājitaṃ kṛtam |
Arjuna berkata: “Dengan kereta perang inilah Indra meraih kemenangan dalam pertempuran menewaskan asura Śambara. Dengan kereta ini juga baginda menundukkan Namuci, Bala, Vṛtra, Prahrāda, dan Narakāsura.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and weapons gain ethical legitimacy when they are remembered as instruments used to restrain adharma—forces that harm the world. By invoking Indra’s victories, the verse frames martial capability as justified when aligned with protection of order and the defeat of oppressive violence.
Arjuna identifies the chariot and praises its proven might by recalling Indra’s past battles in which major asuras were defeated. The recollection elevates the chariot’s status and signals confidence grounded in precedent and divine association.