Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 94: Sātyaki–Sudarśana Yuddha (सात्यकि–सुदर्शन युद्ध)
इत्युक्त्वा वरुण: प्रादाद् गदां मन्त्रपुरस्कृताम्
ity uktvā varuṇaḥ prādād gadāṃ mantrapuraskṛtām
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਇਉਂ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਵਰੁਣ ਨੇ ਮੰਤਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਸਕਾਰਿਤ ਗਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕੀਤੀ।
संजय उवाच
Power in the epic is not merely physical; it is legitimized through dharmic and ritual sanction. A weapon ‘empowered by mantras’ signifies disciplined, authorized force rather than brute violence.
Sañjaya reports that Varuṇa, after speaking, grants a mace that has been ritually empowered by mantras, indicating a divinely sanctioned bestowal of martial capability within the war context.