Shloka 48
Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness
Nivātakavaca engagement
ततः प्राञज्जलिरेवाहमस्त्रेषु गतमानस:,मेरा मन तो अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंमें लगा हुआ था। उस समय मैंने हाथ जोड़कर मन-ही-मन भगवान् शंकरको प्रणाम किया और यह बात कही--“यदि मुझपर भगवान् प्रसन्न हैं, तो मेरा मनोवांछित वर इस प्रकार है--देवताओंके पास जो कोई भी दिव्यास्त्र हैं, उन्हें मैं जानना चाहता हूँ।” यह सुनकर भगवान् शंकरने मुझसे कहा--'पाण्डुनन्दन! मैं तुम्हें सम्पूर्ण दिव्यास्त्रोंकी प्राप्तिका वर देता हूँ
tataḥ prāñjalir evāham astreṣu gatamānasaḥ | manasā śaṅkaraṃ devaṃ praṇamyaivam abhāṣata || yadi me bhagavān tuṣṭaḥ syāt tad varam imaṃ vṛṇe | devatānāṃ yathā divyāny astrāṇi santi tāny aham | jñātum icchāmi sarvāṇi || etac chrutvā bhagavān śaṅkara uvāca | pāṇḍunandana sarvadivyāstraprāptim te varaṃ dadāmi ||
Then I stood with folded hands, my mind wholly intent on weapons and their mysteries. Inwardly I bowed to Lord Śaṅkara and spoke: “If the Blessed Lord is pleased with me, this is the boon I desire—whatever divine missiles and weapons the gods possess, I wish to know them all.” Hearing this, Lord Śaṅkara replied: “O son of Pāṇḍu, I grant you the boon of obtaining all divine weapons.” The episode frames martial power as something to be sought only through humility, divine sanction, and disciplined intent, not through pride or mere ambition.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power—especially martial power—should be sought through humility, self-control, and rightful purpose. Arjuna’s request is framed as a disciplined, sanctioned pursuit (learning divine astras) rather than ego-driven domination, and Śiva’s granting of the boon implies responsibility and ethical restraint in its use.
Arjuna, intent on acquiring divine weapons for the coming conflict, folds his hands and mentally bows to Śiva. He asks to learn all celestial weapons possessed by the gods. Śiva responds by granting him the boon of obtaining all divine astras.