Shloka 28
Śiva Grants the Pāśupata Astra (Pāśupata-Śastra Upadeśa) | शिवेन पाशुपतास्त्रदानम्
पार्थ क्षत्रियमुख्यस्त्वं क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थित: । पश्य मां पृथुताम्राक्ष वरुणो5स्मि जलेश्वर:,'पर्थ! तुम क्षत्रियोंमें प्रधान एवं क्षत्रिय-धर्ममें स्थित हो। विशाल तथा लाल नेत्रोंवाले अर्जुन! मेरी ओर देखो। मैं जलका स्वामी वरुण हूँ
pārtha kṣatriyamukhyas tvaṃ kṣatradharme vyavasthitaḥ | paśya māṃ pṛthutāmrākṣa varuṇo 'smi jaleśvaraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Pārtha, you are foremost among kṣatriyas, firmly established in the kṣatriya code of duty. Look upon me, O wide, copper-red–eyed Arjuna: I am Varuṇa, lord of the waters.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms Arjuna’s identity as a model kṣatriya grounded in kṣatriya-dharma, and frames the encounter as a legitimate, duty-aligned interaction with divine authority—Varuṇa revealing himself as the sovereign of waters.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a divine figure addresses Arjuna directly, praises his steadfastness in warrior duty, and then discloses his own identity: he is Varuṇa, the lord of the waters, inviting Arjuna to recognize him.