Shloka 16
तथैव तं चिन्तयतां सिताश्च- मस्त्रार्थिनं वासवमभ्युपेतम् । मासो<5थ कृच्छेण तदा व्यतीत- स्तस्मिन् नगे भारत भारतानाम्,जनमेजय! अस्त्रविद्याकी अभिलाषासे देवराज इन्द्रके समीप गये हुए श्वेतवाहन अर्जुनका चिन्तन करनेवाले पाण्डवोंका एक मास उस पर्वतपर बड़ी कठिनाईसे व्यतीत हुआ
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tathaiva taṃ cintayatāṃ sitāś ca astrārthinaṃ vāsavam abhyupetam | māso 'tha kṛcchreṇa tadā vyatītaḥ tasmin nage bhārata bhāratānām janamejaya ||
Wahai Janamejaya! Sementara para Pāṇḍava terus memikirkan Arjuna yang berkulit cerah—yang telah mendatangi Vāsava, Indra, demi ilmu senjata—genap sebulan berlalu di gunung itu, dan berlalu dengan amat berat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined endurance and patient waiting in pursuit of a dharmic goal: while Arjuna seeks higher means (divine weapons) from Indra, the others accept hardship without wavering, showing that righteous aims often require sustained effort and restraint.
Arjuna, described as fair-complexioned, has gone to Indra (Vāsava) to obtain celestial weapons. Meanwhile, the Pāṇḍavas remain on a mountain, thinking of him; a month passes there, and it is marked by considerable hardship.