Shloka 363

निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas

Vajra-astra deployment

Devanagari script

मातलिहयतत्त्वज्ञो यथावद्‌ भूरिदक्षिण: । मातलि अश्वसंचालनकी कलाके मर्मज्ञ थे। सारथिके कार्यमें अत्यन्त कुशल थे। उन्होंने मन तथा वायुके समान वेगशाली अश्वोंको यथोचित रीतिसे आगे बढ़ाया

Transliteration

mātaliḥ yat tattvajño yathāvad bhūridakṣiṇaḥ |

Translation

అర్జునుడు పలికెను—మాతలి అశ్వసంచలన తత్త్వాన్ని తెలిసినవాడు, అత్యంత దక్షుడు. సారథ్యకర్మలో పరమ నిపుణుడై, మనస్సు మరియు వాయువులాంటి వేగమున్న అశ్వాలను యథావిధిగా ముందుకు నడిపెను।

Word by Word

• मातलिः: Matali (Indra's charioteer)
• मातलिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हयतत्त्वज्ञः: knower of the principles of horses
• हयतत्त्वज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हय-तत्त्व-ज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथावत्: properly, as prescribed
• यथावत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत्

• भूरिदक्षिणः: very skillful (lit. having abundant दक्षिणा/skill)
• भूरिदक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि-दक्षिण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Mātali
• horses
• chariot (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence in dharma is shown through competent performance of one’s role: Mātali’s truth-informed expertise and disciplined technique illustrate how right knowledge and practical skill together uphold duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna describes Mātali’s mastery as a charioteer—his knowledge, dexterity, and precise control of extremely swift horses—highlighting the reliable guidance enabling the journey/encounter to proceed effectively.