SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > KAIRAATA PARVA > CHAPTER 39 - FIGHT BETWEEN LORD SHIVA AND ARJUNA
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘After
all those Mahatma Tapaswis had gone away, that wielder of the Pinaaka (Pinaakapaani in Sanskrit)
(Pinaakapaani is Lord Shiva as holds a bow called Pinaaka) and cleanser of all sins – the illustrious Hara – assuming the form of
a Kiraata glowing as a golden tree, with a huge and stalwart form like a second
Meru mountain, taking up a beautiful bow and a number of arrows resembling
snakes of deadly poison, and looking like an embodiment of fire, came quickly
down on the chest of Himavat (present-day Himalayas). The handsome Deva (Lord Shiva) was accompanied by (Devi) Uma
in the guise of a Kiraata woman, and also by a swarm of merry spirits (Bhoota
in Sanskrit) of various forms and
attire, and by thousands of women in the form and attire of Kiraatas. O Bharata
(Janamejaya), that region suddenly
blazed up in beauty, in consequence of the arrival of Devadeva (Lord Shiva) in such company. Soon enough a solemn
stillness pervaded the place. The sounds of springs, water-courses, and of
birds suddenly stopped.
“As the Devadeva (Lord Shiva) approached Paarthaa (Arjuna)
of blameless deeds (Klishta Karma in Sanskrit), he (Arjuna) saw a
wonderful sight, that a Daanavaa (Daanavaa is a clan of Asuras) named Mooka, seeking, in the form of a
boar (Vaaraaham in Sanskrit), to
slay Arjuna. Phalguna (Arjuna), at
the sight of the enemy seeking to slay him, took up the Gaandeeva and a number
of arrows resembling snakes of deadly poison. Stringing his bow and filling the
air with its twang, he (Arjuna)
addressed the boar and said, ‘I have come here but done you no injury. As you
seek to slay me, I shall certainly send you to the abode of Yama (Yamasaadanam
in Sanskrit).’
“Looking that firm
wielder of the bow, Phaalguna (Arjuna), about to
slay the boar, Shankara (Lord Shiva)
in the guise of a Kiraata suddenly prevented him (Arjuna) stop saying, ‘The boar like the mountain
of Indrakeela in colour has been aimed at by me first’; Phaalguna, however,
disregarding these words, struck the boar. The Kiraata (Lord Shiva) also blazing splendour, let fly an arrow
like flaming fire and resembling Vajra at the same object. The arrows thus shot
by both fell at the same instant of time upon the wide body of Mooka, hard as
adamant. The two arrows fell upon the boar with a loud sound, like that of (Lord)
Indra’s Vajra and the thunder of the
clouds falling together upon the chest of a mountain. Mooka, thus struck by two
arrows which produced numerous arrows resembling snakes of blazing mouths,
yielded up his life, assuming once more his terrible Raakshasa form. Jishnu (Arjuna) – that slayer of enemies – then saw before
him that person, of form blazing as God (Purusha in Sanskrit) and attired in the dress of a Kiraata and
accompanied by many women.
“Looking him, the Kaunteya
(Arjuna) with a joyous heart addressed him
smilingly and said, ‘Who are You that thus wander in these isolated forest,
surrounded by women? O You of the splendour of gold, are you not afraid of this
terrible forest? Why, again, did You shoot the boar that was first aimed at by
me? This Raakshasa that came here, listlessly or with the object, of slaying
me, had been first aimed at by me. You shall not, therefore, escape from me
with life. Your behaviour towards me is not consistent with the customs of the
chase (Mrugayaa Dharma in Sanskrit).
Therefore, O mountaineer (Parvataashraya in Sanskrit), I will take Your life.’
“Thus, addressed by the
Paandavaa (Arjuna), the Kiraata, smiling replied to him
capable of wielding the bow with his left hand (Savyasaachi in Sanskrit), in soft words, saying, ‘O hero (Veera
in Sanskrit), you need not be anxious on
my account. This forest land is proper abode for us who always stay in the forest.
However, respecting yourself, I may inquire, why have you selected your abode
here amid such difficulties. We, O one whose wealth is Tapas, have our
habitation in these forest abounding in animals of all kinds. Why do you, so
delicate and brought up in luxury and possessed of the splendour of fire, stay
alone in such an isolated region?’
“Arjuna said, ‘Depending
on the Gaandeeva and arrows blazing like fire, I live in this great forest,
like a second Paavaki. You have seen how this monster – this terrible Raakshasa
– that came here in the form of an animal (Mruga Roopam in Sanskrit), has been slain by me.’
“The Kirata replied, ‘This
Raakshasa, first struck with the shot from my bow, was killed and sent to the
regions of Yama (Yamasaadanam
in Sanskrit) by me. He was first aimed
at by me. It is with my shot that he has been deprived of life. Proud of your
strength, it your duty not to assign your own fault to others. You are yourself
in fault, O wretch (Mandaatma in Sanskrit), and, therefore, shall not escape from me with life. You stay: I will
shoot at you arrows like Vajra. You also strive and shoot, to the best of your
power, your arrows at me.’
“Hearing these words of
the Kiraata, Arjuna became angry, and attacked him with arrows. The Kiraata (Lord Shiva), however, with a glad heart received all those arrows upon Himself,
repeatedly saying, ‘Wretch, wretch (Manda Manda in Sanskrit), you shoot best arrows capable of piercing
into the very vitals.’ Thus addressed, Arjuna, began to shower his arrows on
him. Both of them then became angry and, engaging in terrible conflict, began
to shoot at each other showers of arrows, each resembling a snake of deadly
poison. Arjuna rained a perfect shower of arrows on the Kiraata, Shankara (Lord
Shiva), however, bore that downpour on Him
with a cheerful heart. But the wielder of the Pinaaka (Lord Shiva), having borne that shower of arrows for a
moment, stood unwounded, immovable like a mountain. Dhananjaya (Arjuna), seeing his arrowy shower become fruitless,
wondered exceedingly, repeatedly saying, ‘Excellent! Excellent! Alas, this
mountaineer of delicate bodyparts (Sukumaarangam in Sanskrit), staying on the heights of the Himavat (present
day Himalayas), bears, without wavering,
the arrows shot from Gaandeeva! Who is He? Is He Rudra Himself, or some other Deva,
or an Yaksha, or an Asura? Devas sometimes do descend on the heights of the
Himavat (present day Himalayas).
Except the Deva who wields the Pinaaka (Lord Shiva), there is none rise that can bear the assigning of the thousands of
arrows shot by me from Gaandeeva. Whether He is a Deva or a Yaksha, in fact,
anybody except Rudra, I shall soon send Him, with my arrows, to the regions of
Yama (Yamasaadanam in Sanskrit).’
“Thus thinking, Arjuna,
with a cheerful heart, began, O king (Janamejaya), to shoot
arrows by hundreds, resembling in splendour the rays of the Sun. That downpour
of arrows, however, the illustrious Creator of the worlds – the wielder of the
trident (Shoolapaani in Sanskrit) – bore
with a glad heart, like a mountain bearing a shower of rocks. Soon, however,
the arrows of Phaalguna (Arjuna)
were exhausted. Noticing this fact, Arjuna became greatly alarmed. The Paandavaa
(Arjuna) then began to think of the Bhagavan
Hutaashana (Agni) who had before,
during the burning of the Khaandava (forest), given him a couple of inexhaustible arrow baskets. He began to think,
‘Alas, my arrows are all exhausted. What shall I shoot now from my bow? Who is
this person that swallows my arrows? Slaying Him with the end of my bow, as
elephants are killed with lances (Shoola in Sanskrit), I shall send him to the territory of the mace-bearing (Danda Daaram
in Sanskrit) Yama.’
“The illustrious Arjuna
then, taking up his bow and dragging the Kiraata with his bow-string, struck Him
some fierce blows that descended like Vajra. When, however, that slayer of
hostile heroes – the Kaunteya (Arjuna) – commenced the
conflict with the end of the bow, the mountaineer snatched from his hands that divine
bow. Looking his bow snatched from him, Arjuna took up his sword, wishing to
end the conflict, rushed at his enemy. Then the Kuru prince (Kuru Nandana
in Sanskrit), with the whole might of
his arms, struck that sharp weapon upon the head of the Kiraata (Lord
Shiva), a weapon that was incapable of
being resisted by solid rocks. But that first of swords, at touch of the Kiraata’s
head, broke into pieces.
“Phaalguna (Arjuna) then commenced the conflict with trees and stones. The Bhagawan in the
form of the huge-bodied Kiraata, however, bore that shower of trees and rocks
with patience. The mighty Paarthaa (Arjuna) then, his mouth smoking with anger, struck the invincible Deva in the
form of a Kiraata, with his clenched fists, blows that descended like Vajra.
The Deva in the Kiraata form returned Phaalguna’s blows with fierce blows
resembling the Vajra of (Lord) Indra.
In consequence of that conflict of blows between the Paandavaa and the Kiraata,
there arose in that place loud and frightful sounds. That terrible conflict of
blows, resembling the ancient conflict between Vritra and Vaasava (Lord
Indra), lasted but for a moment. The
mighty Jishnu (Arjuna) clasping the
Kiraata began to press Him with his chest, but the Kiraata (Lord Shiva), possessed of great strength pressed the
insensible Paandavaa (Arjuna) with
force. In consequence of the pressure of their arms and of their breasts, their
bodies began to emit smoke like charcoal in fire. The Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) then, striking the already stricken Paandavaa
(Arjuna), and attacking him in anger
with His full might, deprived him of his senses. Then, O Bharata (Janamejaya), Phaalguna, thus pressed by Devadeva, with
bodyparts, besides, bruised and mangled, became incapable of motion and was
almost reduced to a ball of flesh. Struck by the Mahatma Deva, he became
breathless and falling down on earth without power of moving, looked like one
that was dead.
“Soon, however, he
regained consciousness, and, rising from his flattened position, with body
covered with blood, became filled with grief. Mentally prostrating himself
before the Bhagawan Pinaakinam (Lord Shiva), and
making a clay image of that deity, he worshipped it, with offerings of floral
garlands. Looking, however, the garland that he had offered to the clay image
of Bhava (Lord Shiva), decorating
the crown of the Kiraata, that best of Paandavaas became filled with joy and
regained his ease.
“He prostrated himself immediately
at the feet of Bhava (Lord
Shiva), and the Deva also was pleased
with him. Hara (Lord Shiva), seeing
the wonder of Arjuna and seeing that his body had become thin with Tapas, spake
to him in a voice deep as the roaring of the clouds, saying, ‘O Phaalguna (Arjuna), I have been pleased with you for your act
is without a parallel. There is no Kshatriya who is equal to you in courage,
and patience. O sinless one (Arjuna),
your strength (Tejas in Sanskrit)
and prowess (Veerya in Sanskrit) are
almost equal to mine. O mighty-armed one (Arjuna), I have been pleased with you. Look me, O bull of the Bharata race! O
large-eyed one! I will grant you eyes (to see me in my true form). You were a Rishi before. You will defeat
all your enemies, even the dwellers of heaven; I will as I have been pleased
with you, you grant an irresistible weapon. Soon you shall be able to wield
that weapon of mine.’
“Vaishampaayana
continued, ‘Phaalguna (Arjuna) then saw Him – Mahadeva –
that god of blazing splendor (Gireesha in Sanskrit) – that wielder of the Trident (Trishul in Sanskrit) – that one who had his abode on the
mountains (of Kailaasa) – accompanied
by (Devi) Uma. Bending down on his
knee and bowing with his head, that conqueror of hostile cities – the Paarthaa
– worshipped Hara and inclined him to grace.
“Arjuna said,
‘O Kapardin, O chief of all Devas, O destroyer of the eyes of Bhaga, O Devadeva,
O Mahadeva, O You of blue throat, O You of matted locks, I know You as the
Cause of all causes. O You of three eyes, O lord of all! You are the refuge of
all Devas! This universe has sprung from You. You are incapable of being
vanquished by the three worlds of Devas, Asuras, and men. You are (Lord) Shiva in the form of (Lord) Vishnu,
and (Lord) Vishnu in the form of (Lord)
Shiva. In ancient times, You destroyed
the great yagna of Daksha. O Hari, O Rudra, I bow to You. You have an eye on
thy forehead. O Sharvaa (Lord Shiva),
O You that rain objects of desire, O bearer of the trident (Trishul in
Sanskrit), O wielder of the Pinaaka, O
Surya, O You of pure body, O Creator of all, I bow to You. O lord of all
created things, I worship You to obtain Your grace. You are the lord of the
Ganas, the source of universal blessing, the Cause of the causes of the
universe. You are beyond the foremost of beings, You are the highest, You are
the subtlest, O Hara! O Bhagawan Shankara, it is Your duty to pardon my fault.
It was to obtain a sight of Yourself that I came to this great mountain, which
is dear to You and which is the excellent abode of Tapaswis. You are worshipped
of all worlds. O lord, I worship You to obtain Your grace. Let not this
rashness of mine be regarded as a fault – this combat in which I was engaged
with You from ignorance. O Shankara (Lord Shiva), I seek Your protection. Pardon me all I have done.’
अर्जुन उवाच -
कपर्दिन् सर्वदेवेश भगनेत्रनिपातन |
देवदेव महादेव नीलग्रीव जटाधर ||
कारणानां च परमं जाने त्वां त्र्यम्बकं विभुम् |
देवानां च गतिं देव त्वत्प्रसूतमिदं जगत् ||
अजेयस्त्वं त्रिभिर्लोकै: सदेवासुरमानुषैः |
शिवाय विष्णुरूपाय विष्णवे शिवरूपिणे ||
दक्षयज्ञविनाशाय हरिरुद्राय वै नमः |
ललाटाक्षाय शर्वाय मीढुषे शूलपाणये |
पिनाकगोप्त्रे सूर्याय मङ्गल्याय च वेधसे |
प्रसादये त्वां भगवान् सर्वभूतमहेश्वर
||
गणेशं जगतः शम्भुं लोककारणकारणम् |
प्रधानपुरुषातीतं परं सूक्ष्मतरं हरम् ||
व्यतिक्रमं मे भगवन् क्षन्तुमर्हसि शङ्कर |
भगवन् दर्शनाकाङ्क्षी प्राप्तोऽस्मीमं महागिरिम् ||
दयितं तव देवेश तापसालयमुत्तमम् |
प्रसादये त्वां भगवन् सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्
||
न मे स्यादपराधोऽयं महादेवातिसाहसात् |
कृतो मयायमज्ञानाद् विमर्दो यस्त्वया सह ||
शरणं प्रतिपन्नाय तत् क्षमस्वाद्य शंकर ||
“Vaishampaayana
continued, ‘Filled with great might (Maha
Teja in Sanskrit), the Deva whose sign
was the bull (Vrishabhadwaja in Sanskrit), taking into his (hands)
the handsome hands of Arjuna, smilingly replied to him, saying, ‘I have
pardoned you.’ Bhagawan Hara (Lord Shiva), cheerfully clasping Arjuna with his arms, once more consoling Arjuna
said as follows.’”
