Shloka 46
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
ततस्तदू धनुरादाय तूणौ चाक्षय्यसायकौ । प्रादान्ममैव भगवान् धारयस्वेति चाब्रवीत्,अमरत्वमपाहाय ब्रूहि यत् ते मनोगतम् । तदनन्तर मेरे धनुष और अक्षय बाणोंसे भरे हुए दोनों तरकस लेकर भगवान् शिवने मुझे ही दे दिये और कहा--'परंतप! ये अपने अस्त्र ग्रहण करो।' कुन्तीकुमार! मैं तुमसे संतुष्ट हूँ। बोलो, तुम्हारा कौन-सा कार्य सिद्ध करूँ? वीर! तुम्हारे मनमें जो कामना हो, बताओ मैं उसे पूर्ण कर दूँगा। अमरत्वको छोड़कर और तुम्हारे मनमें जो भी कामना हो, बताओ'
tatas tadū dhanur ādāya tūṇau cākṣayyasāyakau | prādān mamaiva bhagavān dhārayasveti cābravīt | amaratvam apahāya brūhi yat te manogatam |
Then the Blessed Lord (Śiva), taking up that bow and the two quivers filled with inexhaustible arrows, handed them over to me and said, “Bear these.” He continued: “O scorcher of foes, I am pleased with you. Speak—what purpose of yours shall I accomplish? Hero, tell me whatever desire is in your mind; I will fulfill it—except for immortality.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Divine favor follows disciplined effort and sincerity, yet even divine boons are bounded by cosmic order: immortality is withheld, underscoring that dharma operates within limits and that a seeker should ask for purposeful, righteous aims rather than absolute escape from mortality.
After testing and then being satisfied with Arjuna, Śiva reveals his favor by returning/gifting Arjuna’s bow and granting him two quivers with inexhaustible arrows, inviting Arjuna to state a wish—explicitly excluding the request for immortality.