Mahabharata 3.39.37 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 37
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
मुहूर्त शरवर्ष तत् प्रतिगृह्ा पिनाकधृक् । अक्षतेन शरीरेण तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचल:
muhūrtaṃ śaravarṣaṃ tat pratigṛhya pinākadhṛk | akṣatena śarīreṇa tasthau girir ivācalaḥ ||
പിനാകധാരിയായ ശിവൻ അല്പസമയത്തിനകം ആ മുഴുവൻ അമ്പുവർഷവും തനിക്കുള്ളിൽ ഉൾക്കൊണ്ട്, പർവ്വതംപോലെ അചലനായി നിന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ശരീരത്തിന് ലേശമെങ്കിലും ക്ഷതി സംഭവിച്ചില്ല.
किरयात उवाच
Educational Q&A
True power is shown not merely by striking back but by unshaken steadiness under attack. The verse highlights divine self-mastery—remaining unharmed and unmoved—implying that spiritual strength and composure surpass outward violence.
In the Kirātārjunīya episode, the Kirāta (Śiva in disguise) receives a fierce rain of arrows without injury. He stands motionless like a mountain, demonstrating his superiority and testing the opponent’s resolve.
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