Mahabharata 3.39.13 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 13

Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas

Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva

Devanagari script

किरातश्न सम॑ तस्मिन्नेकलक्ष्ये महाद्युति: । प्रमुमोचाशनिप्रख्यं शरमग्निशिखोपमम्‌,साथ ही महातेजस्वी किरातने भी उसी एकमात्र लक्ष्ययर बिजली और अग्निशिखाके समान तेजस्वी बाण छोड़ा

Transliteration

kirātaś ca samaṁ tasminn ekalakṣye mahādyutiḥ | pramumocāśaniprakhyaṁ śaram agniśikhopamam ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు చెప్పెను—అప్పుడు మహాతేజస్సు గల కిరాతుడు కూడా అదే ఒక్క లక్ష్యంపై వజ్రసమాన బలముతో, అగ్నిశిఖాసమాన కాంతితో కూడిన బాణాన్ని విడిచెను.

Word by Word

• किरातः: the Kirata (hunter)
• किरातः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• समम्: equally, at the same time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम

• तस्मिन्: in that (target/spot)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• एकलक्ष्ये: in the single target
• एकलक्ष्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकलक्ष्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• महाद्युतिः: the great-lustrous one
• महाद्युतिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाद्युति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रमुमोच: released, let fly
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• अशनिप्रख्यम्: like a thunderbolt
• अशनिप्रख्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशनिप्रख्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अग्निशिखोपमम्: comparable to a flame of fire
• अग्निशिखोपमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निशिखोपम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kirāta (Śiva in disguise)
• arrow
• single target (ekalakṣya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Single-pointed focus (ekalakṣya) and disciplined skill are tested in moments of challenge; true excellence is shown by steadiness and parity of effort, even when the opponent may be more than human.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Kirāta–Arjuna encounter, the Kirāta (Śiva in disguise) matches the same target and releases a blazing, thunderbolt-like arrow, escalating a contest meant to test Arjuna’s prowess and resolve.