Mahabharata (Gita Press) 3.39.1 - Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 1

Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas

Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva

Devanagari script

अपना स२ (0 अवज असल एकोनचत्वारिशोड ध्याय: भगवान्‌ शंकर और अर्जुनका युद्ध

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | gateṣu teṣu sarveṣu tapassviṣu mahātmasu | pinākapāṇir bhagavān sarvapāpaharo haraḥ |

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ജനമേജയ! ആ മഹാത്മ തപസ്വികൾ എല്ലാവരും പോയശേഷം, സർവ്വപാപഹരനായ പിനാകപാണി ഭഗവാൻ ഹരൻ (അർജുനനെ പരീക്ഷിക്കുവാൻ) കിരാതവേഷം ധരിച്ചു പ്രത്യക്ഷനായി. അവന്റെ ദിവ്യകാന്തി സ്വർണമയ വൃക്ഷംപോലെ ജ്വലിച്ചു; അവന്റെ ദേഹം മറ്റൊരു മേരുപർവ്വതംപോലെ വിശാലവും ദീപ്തിമാനുമായതായി തോന്നി.

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Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• गतेषु: when (they) had gone / after (they) went
• गतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• तेषु: among/with regard to them
• तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• सर्वेषु: all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• तपस्विषु: ascetics
• तपस्विषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• महात्मसु: great-souled ones
• महात्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• पिनाकपाणिः: Pināka-in-hand (Śiva)
• पिनाकपाणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकपाणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वपापहरः: remover of all sins
• सर्वपापहरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वपापहर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Śaṅkara (Śiva/Hara)
• Pināka (Śiva’s bow)
• Kirāta (hunter guise)
• Mount Meru
• Arjuna
• tapassvins (ascetics)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Austerity and single-minded striving are not ends in themselves; they become fruitful when aligned with dharma and humility. The Lord who ‘removes sin’ tests the aspirant’s inner quality—courage, restraint, and sincerity—before granting grace.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the ascetics depart, Śiva (Hara), holding his bow Pināka, appears in the disguise of a Kirāta. This sets the stage for the famous encounter and combat with Arjuna, through which Śiva will assess Arjuna and later bestow divine favor.