Shloka 40
Lokapāla-samāgamaḥ—Arjuna Receives Astras from the World-Guardians
Book 3, Chapter 42
ऐरावतं चतुर्दन्तं कैलासमिव शृद्धिणम् । स सिद्धमार्गमाक्रम्य कुरुपाण्डवसत्तम:,तदनन्तर अर्जुनने स्वर्गद्वारपर खड़े हुए सुन्दर विजयी गजराज ऐरावतको देखा, जिसके चार दाँत बाहर निकले हुए थे। वह ऐसा जान पड़ता था, मानो अनेक शिखरोंसे सुशोभित कैलास पर्वत हो। कुरु-पाण्डव-शिरोमणि अर्जुन सिद्धोंके मार्गपर आकर वैसे ही शोभा पाने लगे, जैसे पूर्वकालमें भूपालशिरोमणि मान्धाता सुशोभित होते थे। कमलनयन अर्जुनने उन पुण्यात्मा राजाओंके लोकोंमें भ्रमण किया
airāvataṁ caturdantaṁ kailāsam iva śṛṅgiṇam | sa siddhamārgam ākramya kuru-pāṇḍava-sattamaḥ ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Arjuna, o mais eminente entre os Kurus e os Pāṇḍavas, contemplou Airāvata—o esplêndido e vitorioso senhor dos elefantes—de quatro presas, erguendo-se como o monte Kailāsa adornado de muitos picos. Avançando pelo caminho frequentado pelos Siddhas, o próprio Arjuna parecia radiante e exaltado, lembrando a glória do antigo modelo régio Māndhātṛ. A cena ressalta que o mérito espiritual e o esforço disciplinado concedem acesso aos reinos superiores e aos seus maravilhosos guardiões.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that disciplined striving and accumulated merit elevate a person toward higher, purer realms; divine splendor is portrayed as something approached through a sanctified path (the Siddhas’ way), not merely through worldly power.
Arjuna reaches the celestial threshold and sees Airāvata, Indra’s magnificent elephant, described as four-tusked and mountain-like; as he proceeds along the Siddhas’ path, Arjuna’s own radiance is compared to the famed ancient king Māndhātṛ.