Shloka 28
Arjuna’s Account of Tapas and the Kirāta Test; Revelation of Maheśvara and the Grant of the Pāśupata-Astra
ततः शक्ति गदां खड््गं धनुश्च॒ भरतर्षभ: । प्राध्वं कृत्वा नमश्नक्रे कुबेराय वृकोदर:
tataḥ śaktiṁ gadāṁ khaḍgaṁ dhanuś ca bharatarṣabhaḥ | prādhvaṁ kṛtvā namaś cakre kuberāya vṛkodaraḥ ||
Then Vṛkodara (Bhīma), the bull among the Bharatas, set aside his weapons—his spear, mace, sword, and bow—and, having made the proper respectful gesture, bowed in reverence to Kubera.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power should be governed by dharma: a warrior’s greatness includes humility, restraint, and reverence toward legitimate divine authority. Setting aside weapons before offering homage symbolizes self-control and ethical conduct.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma (Vṛkodara) lays aside his weapons—spear, mace, sword, and bow—and then respectfully bows to Kubera, indicating a formal, reverential approach rather than a confrontational one.