Shloka 55
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
मुष्टिभि्वज्ञसंकाशैर्धूममुत्पादयन् मुखे । प्रजहार दुराधर्षे किरातसमरूपिणि,तब विशालकाय किरातरूपी भगवान् शंकरने उन वृक्षों और शिलाओंको भी ग्रहण कर लिया। यह देखकर महाबली कुन्तीकुमार अपने वज़तुल्य मुक््कोंसे दुर्धर्ष किरात-सदृश रूपवाले भगवान् शिवपर प्रहार करने लगे। उस समय क्रोधके आवेशसे अर्जुनके मुखसे धूम प्रकट हो रहा था
Kirāta uvāca: muṣṭibhir vajra-saṅkāśair dhūmam utpādayan mukhe | prajahāra durādharṣe kirāta-samarūpiṇi ||
Arjuna, o poderoso filho de Kuntī, ao ver que até árvores e rochedos haviam sido tomados por Ele e tornados inúteis, lançou-se contra o Senhor invencível que assumira a forma de um Kirāta, caçador das montanhas. Com punhos como raios, e com fumaça a erguer-se de sua boca no calor da ira, Arjuna golpeou sem recuar, provando não apenas a força, mas a disciplina e a firmeza que sustentam o poder justo.
किरयात उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power must be governed by discipline and right intent: Arjuna’s fierce effort is shown alongside the divine ‘invincibility’ of Śiva, indicating that true strength is perfected through testing, humility, and alignment with dharma rather than mere aggression.
Śiva, disguised as a Kirāta, confronts Arjuna. After Arjuna’s weapons and even thrown trees and rocks prove ineffective, Arjuna closes in and strikes with thunderbolt-like fists; his anger is so intense that ‘smoke’ is described as issuing from his mouth.