Shloka 13

Śiva Grants the Pāśupata Astra (Pāśupata-Śastra Upadeśa) | शिवेन पाशुपतास्त्रदानम्

Devanagari script

उन सब देवताओंने उस महापर्वतके विचित्र एवं तेजस्वी शिखरोंपर पहुँचकर वहाँ तपस्वी अर्जुनको देखा ।। ततो मुहूर्ताद्‌ भगवानैरावतशिरोगत:ः । आजगाम रहेन्द्राण्या शक्र: सुरगणैर्वृत:

Transliteration

Tato muhūrtād bhagavān Airāvata-śiro-gataḥ | ājagāma rājendrāṇyāḥ Śakraḥ sura-gaṇair vṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Các chư thiên lên tới những đỉnh núi lớn kỳ dị và rực sáng, liền thấy Arjuna—vị khổ hạnh—ở đó. Rồi chẳng bao lâu sau, Śakra (Indra), đấng chúa tể hiển hách của chư thiên, ngự đến—ngồi trên lưng/đầu Airāvata, được đoàn thiên chúng vây quanh.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

मुहूर्तात्after a short while (from a moment)

भगवान्the blessed/lordly one

ऐरावत-शिरोगतःmounted on (seated upon) Airāvata's head

आजगामcame, arrived

रहेन्द्राण्याwith (by) Indrāṇī (Śacī)

शक्रःŚakra (Indra)

सुर-गणैःwith groups of gods

वृतःsurrounded, attended

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Śakra (Indra)

Airāvata

sura-gaṇa (hosts of devas)

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that disciplined austerity (tapas) aligned with dharma attracts rightful support and recognition; true strength is validated by self-control and higher purpose rather than mere ambition.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a brief interval, Indra (Śakra) arrives, mounted on Airāvata and accompanied by many gods, approaching the ascetic Arjuna—signaling a divine response to Arjuna’s ongoing penance.