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 ||
Nang makita ni Arjuna, anak ni Kuntī na makapangyarihan, na maging ang mga puno at bato ay nasamsam ng Panginoon at naging walang saysay ang kanyang mga hakbang, sinalakay niya ang Di-Madadaig—si Śiva na nag-anyong Kirāta, ang mangangaso sa bundok. Sa mga kamaong tila kidlat, at usok na sumisirit mula sa kanyang bibig dahil sa init ng galit, sunod-sunod niyang hinampas ang Panginoon, sinusubok hindi lamang ang lakas kundi ang disiplina at tatag na sandigan ng makatarungang kapangyarihan.
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.