Shloka 72
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो देव महादेवं गिरिशं शूलपाणिनम् | ददर्श फाल्गुनस्तत्र सह देव्या महाद्युतिम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-जनमेजय! तदनन्तर अर्जुनने शूलपाणि महातेजस्वी महादेवजीका देवी पार्वती-सहित दर्शन किया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tato deva-mahādevaṃ giriśaṃ śūlapāṇinam | dadarśa phālgunas tatra saha devyā mahādyutim ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Entonces Arjuna (Phālguna) contempló allí al gran dios Mahādeva—señor de las montañas, portador del tridente—resplandeciente con inmenso fulgor, junto con la Diosa (Pārvatī). La escena enmarca la búsqueda de Arjuna como nacida de la reverencia y la devoción disciplinada: al poder divino no se llega por la fuerza ni por pretensión, sino por humildad y recta conducta; y la visión señala la legitimidad moral de su empresa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Divine power is not merely a tool for victory; it is approached through devotion, humility, and disciplined conduct. The vision of Śiva with Devī underscores that rightful strength is sanctioned by dharma and obtained through inner purification rather than aggression.
In the course of Arjuna’s forest quest for divine weapons, he beholds Śiva—described by epithets like Giriśa and Śūlapāṇi—together with Pārvatī. This marks a pivotal moment of divine encounter that prepares the ground for Śiva’s testing and eventual favor.