Arjuna Departs to Fight the Nivatakavachas
Arjuna sets out on the divine chariot that Indra once used to vanquish the greatest asuras. The roar of his departure alerts the gods, who assemble and ask what he intends to do. He tells them his mission, receives their blessings, and accepts the conch shell Devadatta — the very one Indra used to conquer the worlds.
Arjuna set out on that resplendent chariot — the same one on which, in earlier times, the lord of the gods had vanquished Bali, Virochana's son.
The roar of the chariot alerted all the gods. Thinking it was the king of the gods himself, they assembled. When they saw Arjuna, they asked: "O Phalguna! What will you do?"
Arjuna told them exactly what had occurred. "I will do this in battle. I am departing to kill the nivatakavachas. O immensely fortunate ones! O unblemished ones! O pure ones! Give me your blessings."
The gods were as satisfied and pleased with him as they were with Purandara himself. They spoke: "Ascended on this chariot, Maghavan vanquished in battle Shambara, Namuchi, Bala, Vritra, Prahlada and Naraka. On this chariot, Maghavan vanquished in battle many thousands, prayutas and arbudas of daityas. O Kounteya! You will also vanquish the nivatakavachas in battle and show your prowess, just as the self-controlled Maghavan did earlier. Here is the supreme conch shell with which you will conquer the danavas. Using this, the great-souled Shakra conquered the worlds."
The gods gave him Devadatta — the conch shell obtained from the waters — and Arjuna accepted it.
For the sake of victory, the immortals praised him. Desiring to fight, Arjuna left for the terrible abode of the danavas, with the conch shell, armor, and arrows, having grasped the bow firmly. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 462