Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्या भारत वनपवके अन्तर्गत कैरातपर्वमें शिवप्रस्थानविषयक चालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,त्वदर्थमुद्यतं चेद॑ मया सत्यपराक्रम । त्वमहों धारणे चास्य मेरुप्रतिमगौरव 'सत्यपराक्रमी और मेरुके समान गौरवशाली पार्थ! तुम्हारे लिये यह अस्त्र मैंने उपस्थित किया है। तुम इसे धारण करनेके योग्य हो”

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

iti prakāraṁ śrīmahābhārate vanaparvaṇi antar-gate kirātaparvaṇi śivaprastāna-viṣayakaś catvāriṁśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ | tvad-artham udyataṁ cedam mayā satya-parākrama | tvam aho dhāraṇe cāsya meru-pratima-gaurava | satya-parākramaḥ meru-sadṛśa-gauravaśāli pārtha! tubhyaṁ kṛte 'stram idaṁ mayā upasthāpitaṁ; tvaṁ etad dhārayituṁ yogyaḥ ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“至此，尊贵《摩诃婆罗多》林居篇之迦罗多分，叙阿周那启程求见湿婆之第四十章告终。噢，帕尔塔啊，你的勇武真实而坚定，威仪如须弥山——此兵为你而备，由我亲呈。你确实堪当执持。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'vaiśampāyana uvāca', 'definition': '‘Vaiśampāyana said’—narratorial attribution'}, {'term': 'vanaparva(ṇi)', 'definition': 'Vana Parva—‘Book of the Forest’'}, {'term': 'kirātaparva(ṇi)', 'definition': 'Kirāta-parvan—section dealing with the Kirāta episode (Śiva as hunter)'}, {'term': 'śivaprastāna-viṣayaka', 'definition': 'concerning the setting forth/expedition in relation to Śiva'}, {'term': 'catvāriṁśattamaḥ adhyāyaḥ', 'definition': 'the fortieth chapter'}, {'term': 'samāptaḥ', 'definition': 'completed, concluded'}, {'term': 'tvad-artham', 'definition': 'for your sake, on your account'}, {'term': 'udyatam', 'definition': 'raised, prepared, made ready'}, {'term': 'idam', 'definition': 'this'}, {'term': 'satya-parākrama', 'definition': 'one whose valor is true/steadfast

• epithet of Arjuna'}, {'term': 'dhāraṇe yogyaḥ', 'definition': 'fit to bear/hold (a weapon, responsibility)'}, {'term': 'meru-pratima-gaurava', 'definition': 'having grandeur comparable to Mount Meru'}, {'term': 'pārtha', 'definition': 'son of Pṛthā (Kuntī)

• Arjuna'}, {'term': 'astram', 'definition': 'divine weapon

• missile/weapon empowered by mantra'}, {'term': 'upasthāpitaṁ', 'definition': 'presented, placed at one’s disposal'}]

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Mahābhārata
• Vana Parva
• Kirāta-parvan
• Śiva
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Meru
• Astra (weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames divine weaponry as a trust: only one who is truthful in valor (satya-parākrama) and steady in dignity (meru-pratima-gaurava) is fit to bear such power. Ethical fitness and self-control are presented as prerequisites for receiving and wielding extraordinary force.

What is happening in the narrative?

This is a concluding colophon-like passage marking the end of the chapter about Arjuna’s setting out in connection with Śiva. The speaker addresses Arjuna (Pārtha), stating that a weapon has been prepared and presented for him, and affirming his worthiness to carry it.