Indra's Fee: Arjuna Sets Out Against the Nivatakavachas

Verse 1 (3.170.1)

कृतास्त्रमतिविश्वस्तमथ मां हरिवाहनः । संस्पृश्य मूर्ध्नि पाणिभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

kṛtāstramativiśvastamatha māṃ harivāhanaḥ | saṃspṛśya mūrdhni pāṇibhyāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Then, when I had mastered the weapons and had won his complete trust, Indra, whose mounts are the bay horses, touched my head with both his hands and spoke these words:

Note on the text: Corrected रसंस्पृश्य → संस्पृश्य (misprint in Wikisource; stray र, the critical edition reads saṃspṛśya) and पाणिब्याम् → पाणिभ्याम् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for भ, the critical edition reads pāṇibhyām). अतिविश्वस्तम् for the critical edition's abhiviśvastam is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 2 (3.170.2)

न त्वमद्य युधा जेतुं शक्यः सुरगणैरपि । किं पुनर्मानुषे लोके मानुषैरकृतात्मभिः ॥

na tvamadya yudhā jetuṃ śakyaḥ suragaṇairapi | kiṃ punarmānuṣe loke mānuṣairakṛtātmabhiḥ

Now not even the hosts of the gods can conquer you in battle, how much less the men of the human world, whose spirits are untrained!

Note on the text: Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading. The verse is the first two lines of CE 3.165.2.

Verse 3 (3.170.3)

अप्रमेयोऽप्रधृष्यश्च युद्धेष्वप्रतिमस्तथा । अजेयस्त्वं हि सङ्ग्रामे सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥

aprameyo'pradhṛṣyaśca yuddheṣvapratimastathā | ajeyastvaṃ hi saṅgrāme sarvairapi surāsuraiḥ

You are immeasurable and unassailable, and without equal in battle. Indeed, in combat you cannot be conquered even by all the gods and asuras together.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around the second line and restored a missing word space (सर्वैरपिसुरासुरैः → सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः). The first line is the last line of CE 3.165.2; the second line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.165.2f*0846). Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 4 (3.170.4)

अथाब्रवीत्पुनर्देवः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः । अस्त्रयुद्धे समो वीर न ते कश्चिद्भविष्यति ॥

athābravītpunardevaḥ saṃprahṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ | astrayuddhe samo vīra na te kaścidbhaviṣyati

Then the god spoke again, the hair on his body bristling with delight: "O hero, in battle with weapons no one will be your equal."

Verse 5 (3.170.5)

अप्रमत्तः सदा दक्षः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः । ब्रह्मण्यश्चास्त्रविच्चासि शूरश्चासि कुरूद्वह ॥

apramattaḥ sadā dakṣaḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ | brahmaṇyaścāstraviccāsi śūraścāsi kurūdvaha

You are ever vigilant and skilful, truthful and master of your senses; you are devoted to brahmins, learned in weapons and brave, O pride of the Kurus.

Note on the text: Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 6 (3.170.6)

अस्त्राणि समवाप्तानि त्वया दश च पञ्च च । पञ्चभिर्विधिभिः पार्थ विद्यते न त्वया समः ॥

astrāṇi samavāptāni tvayā daśa ca pañca ca | pañcabhirvidhibhiḥ pārtha vidyate na tvayā samaḥ

You have obtained the weapons, ten and five of them, together with the five ways of using them; O Partha, there is no one equal to you.

Note on the text: Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 7 (3.170.7)

प्रयोगमुपसंहारमावृत्तिं च धनञ्जय । प्रायश्चित्तं च वेत्थ त्वं प्रतीघातं च सर्वशः ॥

prayogamupasaṃhāramāvṛttiṃ ca dhanañjaya | prāyaścittaṃ ca vettha tvaṃ pratīghātaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ

O Dhananjaya, you know in every respect how to discharge them and how to withdraw them, how to repeat them, how to make amends for them, and how to counter them.

Note on the text: Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 8 (3.170.8)

तव गुर्वर्थकालोऽयं समुत्पन्नः परंतप । प्रतिजानीष्व तं कर्तुं ततो वेत्स्याम्यहं परम् ॥

tava gurvarthakālo'yaṃ samutpannaḥ paraṃtapa | pratijānīṣva taṃ kartuṃ tato vetsyāmyahaṃ param

Now the time has come for your teacher's fee, O scorcher of foes. Promise to pay it, and then I will tell you what I require.

Note on the text: Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 9 (3.170.9)

ततोऽहमब्रवं राजन्देवराजमिदं वचः । विषह्यं यन्मया कर्तुं कृतमेव निबोध तत् ॥

tato'hamabravaṃ rājandevarājamidaṃ vacaḥ | viṣahyaṃ yanmayā kartuṃ kṛtameva nibodha tat

Then, O king, I said these words to the king of the gods: "Whatever is within my power to do, know that it is already done."

Verse 10 (3.170.10)

ततो मामब्रवीद्राजन्प्रहसन्बलवृत्रहा । नाविषह्यं तवाद्यास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन ॥

tato māmabravīdrājanprahasanbalavṛtrahā | nāviṣahyaṃ tavādyāsti triṣu lokeṣu kiṃcana

Then, O king, the slayer of Bala and Vritra laughed and said to me: "There is nothing in the three worlds now that is beyond your power."

Note on the text: Corrected नाविपह्यं → नाविषह्यं (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, the critical edition reads nāviṣahyaṃ). प्रहसन् for the critical edition's prahasya is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 11 (3.170.11)

निवातकवचा नाम दानवा मम शत्रवः । समुद्रकुक्षिमाश्रित्य दुर्गे प्रतिवसन्त्युत ॥

nivātakavacā nāma dānavā mama śatravaḥ | samudrakukṣimāśritya durge prativasantyuta

There are danavas called the Nivatakavachas, my enemies, who have taken refuge in the belly of the ocean and dwell there in a stronghold.

Note on the text: Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 12 (3.170.12)

तिस्रः कोट्यः समाख्यातास्तुल्यरूपबलप्रभाः । तांस्तत्र जहि कौन्तेय गुर्वर्थस्ते भविष्यति ॥

tisraḥ koṭyaḥ samākhyātāstulyarūpabalaprabhāḥ | tāṃstatra jahi kaunteya gurvarthaste bhaviṣyati

They are said to number three crores, all alike in form, strength and splendour. Slay them there, son of Kunti; that will be your teacher's fee.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (तांस्तत्रजहि → तांस्तत्र जहि). Speaker set to इन्द्र: verses 2–3, 5–8 and 11–12 are Indra's own words, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 13 (3.170.13)

ततो मातलिसंयुक्तं मयूरसमरोमभिः । हयैरुपेतं प्रादान्मे रथं दिव्यं महाप्रभम् ॥

tato mātalisaṃyuktaṃ mayūrasamaromabhiḥ | hayairupetaṃ prādānme rathaṃ divyaṃ mahāprabham

Then he gave me his radiant celestial chariot, driven by Matali and yoked to horses with hair like a peacock's.

Verse 14 (3.170.14)

बबन्ध चैव मे मूर्ध्नि किरीटमिदमुत्तमम् । स्वरूपसदृशं चैव प्रादादङ्गविभूषणम् ॥

babandha caiva me mūrdhni kirīṭamidamuttamam | svarūpasadṛśaṃ caiva prādādaṅgavibhūṣaṇam

He bound this excellent diadem on my head, and gave me ornaments for my body worthy of my form.

Verse 15 (3.170.15)

अभेद्यं कवचं चेदं स्पर्शरूपवदुत्तमम् । अजरां ज्यामिमां चापि गाण्डीवे समयोजयत् ॥

abhedyaṃ kavacaṃ cedaṃ sparśarūpavaduttamam | ajarāṃ jyāmimāṃ cāpi gāṇḍīve samayojayat

He gave me this impenetrable armour, excellent to the touch and to the eye, and fitted this unaging string to the Gandiva.

Note on the text: Corrected स्पर्सरूपवत् → स्पर्शरूपवत् (misprint in Wikisource; स for श, the critical edition reads sparśarūpavad).

Verse 16 (3.170.16)

ततः प्रायामहं तेन स्यन्दनेन विराजता । येनाजयद्देवपतिर्बलिं वैरोचनिं पुरा ॥

tataḥ prāyāmahaṃ tena syandanena virājatā | yenājayaddevapatirbaliṃ vairocaniṃ purā

Then I set out on that shining chariot with which the lord of the gods once conquered Bali, the son of Virochana.

Verse 17 (3.170.17)

ततो देवाः सर्व एव तेन घोषेण बोधिताः । मन्वाना देवराजं मां समाजग्मुर्विशांपते ॥

tato devāḥ sarva eva tena ghoṣeṇa bodhitāḥ | manvānā devarājaṃ māṃ samājagmurviśāṃpate

Then all the gods, woken by its thunder and taking me for the king of the gods, gathered round, O lord of the people.

Note on the text: Matches the first two lines of CE 3.165.16 (the critical edition groups verses 16–18 in three-line verses).

Verse 18 (3.170.18)

दृष्ट्वा च मामपृच्छन्त किं करिष्यसि फल्गुन । तानब्रुवं यथाभूतमिदं कर्ताऽस्मि संयुगे ॥

dṛṣṭvā ca māmapṛcchanta kiṃ kariṣyasi phalguna | tānabruvaṃ yathābhūtamidaṃ kartā'smi saṃyuge

Seeing me, they asked, "What are you about to do, Phalguna?" I told them plainly what I was to do in battle:

Note on the text: The first line is the last line of CE 3.165.16; the second line is the first line of CE 3.165.17.

Verse 19 (3.170.19)

निवातकवचानां तु प्रस्थितं मां वधैषिणम् । निबोधत महाभागा शिवं चाशास्त मेऽनघाः ॥

nivātakavacānāṃ tu prasthitaṃ māṃ vadhaiṣiṇam | nibodhata mahābhāgā śivaṃ cāśāsta me'naghāḥ

"Know, O fortunate ones, that I have set out seeking to slay the Nivatakavachas; and bless me, O sinless ones."

Note on the text: Corrected तधैपिणम् → वधैषिणम् (misprint in Wikisource; त for व and प for ष, the critical edition reads vadhaiṣiṇam). Matches the last two lines of CE 3.165.17.

Verse 20 (3.170.20)

ततो वाग्भिः प्रशस्ताभिस्त्रिदशाः पृथिवीपते । तुष्टुवुर्मां प्रसन्नास्ते यथा देवं पुरंदरम् ॥

tato vāgbhiḥ praśastābhistridaśāḥ pṛthivīpate | tuṣṭuvurmāṃ prasannāste yathā devaṃ puraṃdaram

Then, O lord of the earth, the thirty gods, well pleased, praised me with words of commendation, as they praise the god Purandara himself:

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around the first line. The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.165.17f*0847); the second line is the first line of CE 3.165.18.

Verse 21 (3.170.21)

रथेनानेन मघवा जितवाञ्शम्बरं युधि । नमुचिं बलवृत्रौ च प्रह्लादनरकावपि ॥

rathenānena maghavā jitavāñśambaraṃ yudhi | namuciṃ balavṛtrau ca prahlādanarakāvapi

With this chariot Maghavan conquered Shambara in battle, and Namuchi, Bala and Vritra, and Prahlada and Naraka as well.

Note on the text: Speaker set to देव (the Gods): verses 21–24 are the gods' words of praise, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading. Matches the last two lines of CE 3.165.18.

Verse 22 (3.170.22)

बहूनि च सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदान्यपि । रथेनानेन दैत्यानां जितवान्मघवा युधि ॥

bahūni ca sahasrāṇi prayutānyarbudānyapi | rathenānena daityānāṃ jitavānmaghavā yudhi

With this chariot Maghavan conquered daityas in battle by many thousands, by millions, even by hundreds of millions.

Note on the text: अर्बुदान्यपि and मघवा for the critical edition's arbudāni ca and maghavān are recension variants and are kept. Speaker set to देव (the Gods): verses 21–24 are the gods' words of praise, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 23 (3.170.23)

त्वमप्यनेन कौन्तेय निवातकवचान्रणे । विजेता युधि विक्रम्य पुरेव मघवा वशी ॥

tvamapyanena kaunteya nivātakavacānraṇe | vijetā yudhi vikramya pureva maghavā vaśī

You too, son of Kunti, will show your valour with this chariot and conquer the Nivatakavachas in battle, as self-controlled Maghavan did of old.

Note on the text: Corrected न्वमप्यनेन → त्वमप्यनेन (misprint in Wikisource; न for त, the critical edition reads tvam) and निबातकवचान् → निवातकवचान् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व, the critical edition reads nivātakavacān). अनेन for the critical edition's etena is a recension variant and is kept. Speaker set to देव (the Gods): verses 21–24 are the gods' words of praise, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 24 (3.170.24)

अयं च शङ्खप्रवरो येन जेतासि दानवान् । अनेन विजिता लोकाः शक्रेणापि महात्मना ॥

ayaṃ ca śaṅkhapravaro yena jetāsi dānavān | anena vijitā lokāḥ śakreṇāpi mahātmanā

And here is the finest of conches, with which you will conquer the danavas; with it the great-souled Shakra too conquered the worlds.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (अयंच → अयं च) and corrected लोका → लोकाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, the critical edition reads lokāḥ). Speaker set to देव (the Gods): verses 21–24 are the gods' words of praise, quoted within Arjuna's account, with no printed heading.

Verse 25 (3.170.25)

प्रदीयमानं देवैस्तं देवदत्तं जलोद्भवम् । प्रत्यगृह्णां जयायैनं स्तूयमानस्तदाऽमरैः ॥

pradīyamānaṃ devaistaṃ devadattaṃ jalodbhavam | pratyagṛhṇāṃ jayāyainaṃ stūyamānastadā'maraiḥ

The gods presented me with that conch, Devadatta, born of the waters, and I accepted it for the sake of victory while the immortals sang my praises.

Verse 26 (3.170.26)

स शङ्खी कवची बाणी प्रगृहीतशरासनः । दानवालयमत्युग्रं प्रयातोस्मि युयुत्सया ॥

sa śaṅkhī kavacī bāṇī pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ | dānavālayamatyugraṃ prayātosmi yuyutsayā

With the conch, in armour, bearing arrows and with my bow in hand, I set out eager for battle towards the fearsome abode of the danavas.

Note on the text: Corrected वाणी → बाणी (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब, "bearing arrows"; the critical edition reads bāṇī).