Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
गणेशं जगत: शम्भुं लोककारणकारणम् | प्रधानपुरुषातीतं परं सूक्ष्मतरं हरम्,आप भूतगणोंके स्वामी, सम्पूर्ण जगत्का कल्याण करनेवाले तथा जगत्के कारणके भी कारण हैं। प्रकृति और पुरुष दोनोंसे परे अत्यन्त सूक्ष्मस्वरूप तथा भक्तोंके पापोंको हरनेवाले हैं
arjuna uvāca | gaṇeśaṃ jagataḥ śambhuṃ lokakāraṇakāraṇam | pradhānapuruṣātītaṃ paraṃ sūkṣmataraṃ haram |
Ako’y yumuyuko kay Śambhu, Panginoon ng lahat ng nilalang, mapagpala sa sanlibutan—Siya ang sanhi maging ng mga sanhi ng daigdig. Higit sa Prakṛti at Puruṣa, Siya ang Kataas-taasan, mas masinop pa sa pinakamasinop, at tagapag-alis ng kasalanan ng mga deboto.
अजुन उवाच
The verse presents Śiva as the ultimate reality: the foundational cause behind all causation, beyond both material nature (Pradhāna/Prakṛti) and the conscious principle (Puruṣa). Ethically, it frames devotion and surrender as a means of purification—Śiva is invoked as the remover of sin and inner affliction.
Arjuna is offering a formal praise (stuti) to Śiva, identifying Him with exalted metaphysical attributes and seeking divine favor. The speech functions as a devotional invocation within the Vana Parva narrative context, where Arjuna turns to ascetic worship and prayer for spiritual and practical empowerment.