Shloka 26
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
अजुन उवाच गाण्डीवमाश्रयं कृत्वा नाराचां श्वाग्निसंनिभान् । निवसामि महारण्ये द्वितीय इव पावकि:,अर्जुनने कहा--मैं गाण्डीव धनुष और अग्निके समान तेजस्वी बाणोंका आश्रय लेकर इस महान् वनमें द्वितीय कार्तिकेयकी भाँति (निर्भय) निवास करता हूँ
arjuna uvāca | gāṇḍīvam āśrayaṃ kṛtvā nārācān śvāgnisaṃnibhān | nivasāmi mahāraṇye dvitīya iva pāvakiḥ ||
Arjuna berkata: “Dengan bersandar pada busur Gāṇḍīva dan mengandalkan anak panah yang menyala laksana api, aku tinggal di rimba besar ini—tak gentar dan dahsyat, seakan api itu sendiri menjelma kedua kalinya.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: even in exile and hardship, one should uphold courage and preparedness, relying on rightful strength and disciplined skill rather than fear.
Arjuna speaks about his stance during the forest-dwelling period, declaring that with the Gāṇḍīva and blazing arrows as his support, he lives in the great forest with the confidence and power of fire itself.