Shloka 16

Devanagari script

वायव्यमभिमन्त्रयाथ प्रतिपत्तिविशारद: । तेनेन्द्राशनिमेघानां वीयोौजस्तद्‌ विनाशितम्‌,वे भयंकर मेघ बिजलीकी कड़कड़ाहटके साथ धरतीपर वज्र गिराने लगे। उस अस्त्रके प्रतीकारकी विद्यामें कुशल अर्जुनने उन मेघोंको नष्ट करनेके लिये अभिमन्त्रित करके वायव्य नामक उत्तम अस्त्रका प्रयोग किया। उस अस्त्रने इन्द्रके छोड़े हुए वज्ञ और मेघोंका ओज एवं बल नष्ट कर दिया

Transliteration

vāyavyam abhimantrayātha pratipattiviśāradaḥ | tenendrāśanimeghānāṁ vīrya-ojas tad vināśitam ||

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: Hábil em discernir a contramedida adequada, ele então invocou a arma Vāyavya. Por ela foram neutralizados e destruídos o poder e o ardor do vajra de Indra e das nuvens de tempestade.

Word by Word

वायव्यम्the Vāyavya (wind-) [weapon]

अभिमन्त्रयhe consecrated/enchanted (by mantra)

अथthen

प्रतिपत्ति-विशारदःskilled in counter-measures/expedients

तेनby that (weapon)

इन्द्राशनि-मेघानाम्of Indra’s thunderbolt(s) and the clouds

वीर्य-ओजःthe strength and vigor

तत्that

विनाशितम्was destroyed

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Indra

Vāyavya Astra

Aśani (thunderbolt)

Megha (storm-clouds)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power is not answered best by rage but by disciplined knowledge and right discernment (pratipatti). The verse highlights measured, skillful counteraction—neutralizing harm while demonstrating mastery and restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Indra’s thunderbolt and storm-cloud assault intensifies, the expert combatant invokes the Vāyavya astra. Its wind-force disperses and nullifies the energy and strength of the thunderbolt and clouds, ending the immediate threat.