Shloka 14
Chapter 40: Śiva in Kirāta Disguise Tests Arjuna
Mūka-vadha and the Contest
एष मे प्रथम: कामो भगवन् भगनेत्रहन् । त्वत्प्रसादाद् विनिर्वृत्त: समर्थ: स्थामहं यथा,भगदेवताकी आँखें नष्ट करनेवाले भगवन्! आपके समक्ष यह मेरा सबसे पहला मनोरथ है, जो आपहीके कृपाप्रसादसे पूर्ण हो सकता है। आप ऐसा करें, जिससे मैं सर्वथा शत्रुओंको परास्त करनेमें समर्थ हो सकूँ
eṣa me prathamaḥ kāmo bhagavan bhaganetrahan | tvatprasādād vinirvṛttaḥ samarthaḥ sthāmahaṃ yathā ||
Arjuna said: “O Blessed Lord, slayer of Bhaga’s eyes! This is my first and foremost desire before you: that by your gracious favor it may be fulfilled—grant that I may stand firm and become fully capable of overcoming my enemies.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial success as ethically grounded in humility and dependence on divine grace: Arjuna does not claim victory by ego, but seeks steadiness and capability as a boon, aligning personal power with dharma and disciplined purpose.
Arjuna addresses Śiva (signaled by the epithet ‘bhaganetrahan’) and presents his foremost request: that Śiva’s favor make him steadfast and fully able to overcome his foes—an appeal for empowerment before impending conflict.