Shloka 12
पितृविप्रवधेनाहमार्तो वै पाण्डवाग्रज । शुचिर्भूत्वा महादेवं गतो5स्मि शरणं नूप,'ज्येष्ठ पाण्डव! नरेश्वर! मैंने पितृतुल्य बड़े भाइयोंको मारकर पितृवध और ब्राह्मणगवधका पाप कर डाला था। इससे मुझे बड़ा दुःख हुआ और मैं पवित्र भावसे महादेवजीकी शरणमें गया। शरणागत होकर मैंने इन्हीं नामोंसे रुद्रदेवकी स्तुति की। इससे भगवान् महादेव मुझपर बहुत संतुष्ट हुए और मुझे अपना परशु एवं दिव्यास्त्र देकर बोले -- तुम्हें पाप नहीं लगेगा। तुम युद्धमें अजेय हो जाओगे। तुमपर मृत्युका वश नहीं चलेगा तथा तुम अजर-अमर बने रहोगे”
pitṛ-vipra-vadhena aham ārto vai pāṇḍavāgraja | śucir bhūtvā mahādevaṁ gato 'smi śaraṇaṁ nṛpa ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O eldest of the Pāṇḍavas, O king, I was tormented with grief because, by slaying those who were like fathers and by killing a brāhmaṇa, I had incurred the sin of father-slaying and brāhmaṇa-slaying. Seeking inner purity, I went to Mahādeva for refuge. Having surrendered, I praised Rudra by these very names; and Mahādeva, greatly pleased with me, granted me his axe and divine weapons, declaring: ‘No sin shall cling to you. You will become unconquerable in battle; death will not overpower you, and you will be free from decay and death.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even grave moral transgressions (such as killing elders or a brāhmaṇa) generate intense inner suffering and ethical burden; the passage emphasizes purification through sincere surrender (śaraṇāgati) and devotion, and portrays divine grace as capable of lifting guilt and restoring strength when one seeks refuge with humility and purity of intent.
The speaker recounts being overwhelmed by remorse for killings that amount to pitṛ-vadha and vipra-vadha. He approaches Mahādeva (Śiva) as a refuge, praises Rudra, and receives Śiva’s favor—symbolized by the gift of the axe and divine weapons and by assurances of freedom from sin and invincibility.