Shloka 283
धर्मद्वारबहुत्वविमर्शः — Reflection on the Many ‘Doors’ of Dharma (Śānti-parva 342)
पुत्रार्थभाराधितवानहमात्मानमात्मना | पाण्डवोंको आनन्दित करनेवाले अर्जुन! मुझे दूसरा कोई वर नहीं दे सकता; यही सोचकर मैंने पुत्र-प्राप्तिके लिये स्वयं ही अपने आत्मस्वरूप पुराणपुरुष जगदीश्वर रुद्रकी आराधना की थी
putrārtha-bhārādhitavān aham ātmānam ātmanā | pāṇḍavān ānanditavāle arjuna! mām dvitīyo na kaścid varaṃ dātuṃ śaknoti; iti matvā putra-prāptyai svayam eva sva-ātma-svarūpaṃ purāṇa-puruṣaṃ jagad-īśvaraṃ rudram ārādhitavān asmi |
Arjuna sprach: „Im Verlangen nach dem Segen eines Sohnes unternahm ich aus eigenem Entschluss eine schwere Verehrung. In dem Gedanken: ‚Kein anderer kann mir diese Gabe gewähren‘, verehrte ich Rudra—den uralten Purusha, den Herrn des Weltalls und in Wahrheit mein eigenes Selbst—damit ich einen Sohn erlange.“
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes purposeful devotion joined with personal resolve: when a goal is ethically framed and deeply desired, one should undertake disciplined worship and inner effort. It also presents a theological insight—Rudra is not merely an external deity but is identified with the inner Self (ātma-svarūpa), linking devotion with self-knowledge.
Arjuna explains that he sought the boon of a son and, believing no other power could grant it, he personally propitiated Rudra—described as the ancient cosmic Person and Lord of the universe—through worship undertaken by his own determination.