Shloka 6
Arjuna’s Absence, Bhīma’s Kṣātra-Dharma Appeal, and Bṛhadaśva’s Arrival
Nala-Upākhyāna Begins
तत्रैनं लोकपालास्ते दर्शयामासुरर्जुनम् । अस्त्रहेतो: पराक्रान्तं तपसा कौरवर्षभम्,वहाँ अस्त्रप्राप्तिके लिये विशेष उद्योगशील कुरु-कुलरत्न अर्जुनको उनकी तपस्यासे प्रसन्न होकर उन लोकपालोंने भी दर्शन दिया था
tatrainaṁ lokapālāste darśayāmāsur arjunam | astr-hetoḥ parākrāntaṁ tapasā kauravarṣabham ||
Di sana, para Lokapāla (penjaga penjuru dunia), berkenan oleh tapa-brata Arjuna, menampakkan diri kepadanya. Melihat sang banteng di antara kaum Kuru—gagah berani, tekun bertapa demi memperoleh senjata ilahi—mereka menganugerahkan hadirat mereka sebagai tanda restu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Focused effort (parākrama) guided by a disciplined spiritual practice (tapas) and aimed at a legitimate duty—here, acquiring astras for a kṣatriya’s responsibility—invites divine support. The verse frames divine encounter not as random favor but as a response to purposeful self-control and resolve.
Arjuna is performing austerities to obtain celestial weapons. Pleased with his penance and intent, the Lokapālas appear and grant him their audience, signaling that his quest for astras is being acknowledged and supported by higher cosmic authorities.