Shloka 50
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
सम्प्रयुद्धों धनुष्कोट्या कौन्तेय: परवीरहा । तदप्यस्य धर्नुर्दिव्यं जग्राह गिरिगोचर:,शत्रु-वीरोंका संहार करनेवाले कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनने जब धनुषकी कोटिसे प्रहार किया, तब उस पर्वतीय किरातने अर्जुनके उस दिव्य धनुषको भी अपनेमें लीन कर लिया
samprayuddho dhanuṣkoṭyā kaunteyaḥ paravīrahā | tad apy asya dhanur divyaṃ jagrāha girigocaraḥ ||
No combate corpo a corpo, Arjuna—filho de Kuntī, célebre por abater os campeões inimigos—golpeou com a própria ponta do arco. Contudo, o Kirāta, errante das montanhas, apoderou-se até do arco divino de Arjuna, como se o absorvesse em sua mão.
किरयात उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest warrior can be checked when facing a superior or divinely concealed opponent; the ethical lesson is to temper valor with humility and discernment, recognizing that true strength includes self-control and readiness to learn.
During a fierce fight, Arjuna strikes with the tip of his bow, but the Kirāta—moving with mountain-born agility—grabs and effectively neutralizes even Arjuna’s divine bow, signaling the Kirāta’s extraordinary power and setting up Arjuna’s further testing.