Shloka 20
Chapter 40: Śiva in Kirāta Disguise Tests Arjuna
Mūka-vadha and the Contest
ततस्त्वध्यापयामास सरहस्यनिवर्तनम् | तदस्त्रं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ मूर्तिमन्तमिवान्तकम्,तब भगवान् शिवने रहस्य और उपसंहारसहित पाशुपतास्त्रका उन्हें उपदेश दिया। उस समय वह अस्त्र जैसे पहले त्रिनेत्रधारी उमापति शिवकी सेवामें उपस्थित हुआ था, उसी प्रकार मूर्तिमान् यमराजतुल्य पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ अर्जुनके पास आ गया। तब अर्जुनने बहुत प्रसन्न होकर उसे ग्रहण किया
tatas tv adhyāpayāmāsa sa-rahasya-nivartanam | tad astraṁ pāṇḍava-śreṣṭha mūrtimantam ivāntakam ||
于是他将此武器连同秘传之法与收回之诀一并传授。噢，般度诸子中最卓越者，那神矢——宛如死神具形——仿佛显现为可见之体，来到阿周那身边，正如它昔日侍立于三眼大自在天（湿婆）左右一般。阿周那满怀欢喜，恭敬受持。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true mastery of a divine weapon includes not only its invocation but also its secret discipline and, crucially, its withdrawal (nivartana). Ethical power is defined by control—knowing how to stop or recall what one can unleash.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the teacher transmits the Pāśupata weapon to Arjuna with its esoteric instructions and the method to withdraw it. The weapon is poetically described as appearing in embodied form, death-like in potency, and Arjuna receives it with great delight and reverence.