Shloka 13

Śiva Grants the Pāśupata Astra (Pāśupata-Śastra Upadeśa) | शिवेन पाशुपतास्त्रदानम्

Devanagari script

उन सब देवताओंने उस महापर्वतके विचित्र एवं तेजस्वी शिखरोंपर पहुँचकर वहाँ तपस्वी अर्जुनको देखा ।। ततो मुहूर्ताद्‌ भगवानैरावतशिरोगत:ः । आजगाम रहेन्द्राण्या शक्र: सुरगणैर्वृत:

Transliteration

Tato muhūrtād bhagavān Airāvata-śiro-gataḥ | ājagāma rājendrāṇyāḥ Śakraḥ sura-gaṇair vṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Soon after, Śakra (Indra), the illustrious lord of the gods, arrived—seated upon the head/back of Airāvata and surrounded by hosts of devas. The scene underscores divine recognition of disciplined tapas: Arjuna’s austerity draws the attention of heaven itself, suggesting that power sought through self-restraint and right purpose is ethically superior to power seized through impulse or pride.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

मुहूर्तात्after a short while (from a moment)

भगवान्the blessed/lordly one

ऐरावत-शिरोगतःmounted on (seated upon) Airāvata's head

आजगामcame, arrived

रहेन्द्राण्याwith (by) Indrāṇī (Śacī)

शक्रःŚakra (Indra)

सुर-गणैःwith groups of gods

वृतःsurrounded, attended

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Śakra (Indra)

Airāvata

sura-gaṇa (hosts of devas)

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that disciplined austerity (tapas) aligned with dharma attracts rightful support and recognition; true strength is validated by self-control and higher purpose rather than mere ambition.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a brief interval, Indra (Śakra) arrives, mounted on Airāvata and accompanied by many gods, approaching the ascetic Arjuna—signaling a divine response to Arjuna’s ongoing penance.