Mahabharata (Gita Press) 3.39.53 - Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 53
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
तस्य मूर्धानमासाद्य पफालासिवरो हि सः । ततो वृक्ष: शिलाभिश्न योधयामास फाल्गुन:,परंतु उसके मस्तकसे टकराते ही वह उत्तम तलवार टूक-टूक हो गयी। तब अर्जुनने वृक्षों और शिलाओंसे युद्ध करना आरम्भ किया
tasya mūrdhānam āsādya phaḷāsivarō hi saḥ | tato vṛkṣaiḥ śilābhiś ca yodhayāmāsa phālgunaḥ ||
എന്നാൽ അവന്റെ തലയിൽ തട്ടിയതുമാത്രത്തിൽ ആ ഉത്തമ ഖഡ്ഗം തകർന്നു ചിതറിപ്പോയി. അപ്പോൾ ഫാൽഗുനൻ അർജുനൻ വൃക്ഷങ്ങളും ശിലകളും എറിഞ്ഞ് പോരാടാൻ തുടങ്ങി.
किरयात उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a preferred means fails, one should not abandon resolve; dharmic courage includes resourcefulness—continuing the rightful struggle with whatever means remain, without losing composure.
In the heat of combat, the attacker’s fine sword shatters upon striking the opponent’s head; Arjuna (Phālguna) then continues the fight by using trees and stones as weapons.
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