Mahabharata 3.39.73 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 73
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
स जानुभ्यां महीं गत्वा शिरसा प्रणिपत्य च । प्रसादयामास हरं पार्थ: परपुरंजय:,शत्रुओंकी राजधानीपर विजय पानेवाले कुन्तीकुमारने उनके आगे पृथ्वीपर घुटने टेक दिये और सिरसे प्रणाम करके शिवजीको प्रसन्न किया
sa jānubhyāṁ mahīṁ gatvā śirasā praṇipatya ca | prasādayāmāsa haraṁ pārthaḥ parapuraṁjayaḥ ||
Dann ging Pārtha—berühmt als Bezwinger feindlicher Festungen—auf die Knie zur Erde nieder und suchte, das Haupt in voller Niederwerfung geneigt, die Gnade Haras (Śivas) zu gewinnen. Die Szene betont, dass selbst der mächtigste Krieger zu Demut und disziplinierter Hingabe greift, wenn er nach gerechter Macht und göttlicher Bestätigung verlangt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and victory are not portrayed as mere products of strength; they are to be sought through humility, self-discipline, and reverence for dharma. The warrior’s bowing to Śiva signals that rightful success depends on inner submission and divine grace, not arrogance.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Arjuna (Pārtha), famed for conquering enemy fortresses, kneels on the ground and prostrates with his head, actively propitiating Śiva (Hara) to obtain his favor—setting the stage for divine assistance in his larger mission.
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