Shiva and Arjuna's Battle

"Yudhishthira, I know about the deep fear that has risen in your mind," said the great sage. "Son, are you afraid of the Kaurava warriors? You do not wish to face Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Ashwatthama. And if they are not destroyed, then no one will be able to bring Duryodhana under control. Is this the one thought in your mind, son?"

Yudhishthira bowed with folded hands.

"Forgive me, great sage," he said softly. "I, I am a Kshatriya. Weakness can never be its duty. I am not weak, great one. The insult to Panchali in the Kaurava court, the insult to my brothers, all this, all this I remember. But great sage, there is one thing I cannot tell anyone. Today I want to tell you, tell you about that terrible worry of mine."

"Speak, son. Speak without fear," the sage replied. "It is to hear your words that I have come today."

Yudhishthira raised his eyes and spoke with honesty.

"I respect not only Grandfather and Guru Drona, but also Karna’s bravery. A warrior as swift and skilled as Karna is rare in this world. Except for Arjuna, if there is any other fast-striking warrior in this world, then it is Karna. Karna’s own fiery power and the strange force of his horses—if these two powers come together in one place, will my brothers be able to bear it, great sage?"

The sage answered calmly, with the weight of truth in his voice.

"I have no favor toward anyone. In my eyes, all are equal. But, son, I always follow truth. What is truly true can never be proved false in any condition. If any warrior is as strong as Bhima and as swift as Arjuna, then he can conquer the three worlds. Karna truly is a great hero. But when Guru Dakshina was being offered to Dronacharya, during the attack on Panchala, Karna was there too, yet the victory was Arjuna’s. Do not forget that, son."

"No, great one, I have forgotten nothing," said Yudhishthira. "But that battle and today’s this..."

"I know, Yudhishthira," said the sage. "That battle of that day cannot be compared with the great war that is coming. And that is why I want to teach you something by which all the worries in your mind will go away. Have the harsh words of Panchali and Bhima Sen shaken your natural calm? Then sit again in that eternal patience, child. I want to give you a teaching."

"I am seated in my natural mind, lord," Yudhishthira said. "Please teach me, O best of gurus."

The sage looked upon him with grace.

"Yudhishthira, the time for your good and welfare is coming nearer and nearer. The middle Pandava, Arjuna, will defeat your enemies and win back your lost kingdom, O king. But before that, I want to give you a special knowledge. This knowledge is the great mantra of success."

"Command me, lord. What must I do?"

"I am giving you a great knowledge called Pratismriti, Yudhishthira. It brings success in action. In the Vedas it is famous as the Indra-mantra. Receive this knowledge, son. From you, Arjuna will receive this knowledge. Then he must practice it to turn this knowledge into action."

Yudhishthira bowed low.

"Your command is on my head, great sage. Please tell me once what result will come from the practice of this knowledge."

The sage then revealed its greatness.

"Son Yudhishthira, this Pratismriti knowledge is a very secret knowledge. By practicing it Arjuna will gain great strength. By that strength Arjuna will gain divine weapons. He will also gain the worthiness to see the great gods like Indra, Rudra, Varuna, and Kubera. Among the five Pandavas, only Arjuna is worthy of this divine closeness, because in a past birth he was famous as Nara, the companion of Narayana. King Yudhishthira, make haste in the matter of Arjuna gaining the divine weapons."

"As you command, lord," said Yudhishthira. "I will learn this knowledge from you and then give that teaching to Arjuna. By your blessing Arjuna will surely be able to bring back all kinds of divine weapons from heaven, great sage."

The sage then added one more instruction.

"I want to give you one more advice, great king. Do not stay in this forest for too long. If one lives long in the same place, then the deer, fruits, herbs, medicines, and other things of that place slowly begin to run out. There are many ascetics who do not go anywhere except this forest region. Their right over the resources of this forest is much greater than yours. It is your duty, son, to see that they do not fall into worry. Do not remain in one place for long. Wander through the forests."

Yudhishthira accepted every word.

"As you command, great sage. I accept this order with my head bowed. Very soon we will leave this forest and go away."

Then Yudhishthira came and sat before me like an obedient student who had taken shelter. After completing his purification, I gave him the Pratismriti knowledge. Through the ages many princes perform hard penance to receive this knowledge from me, Satyavati’s son Vedavyasa, but none of them is as true in nature as he is. To receive knowledge directly from me, one must pass the test of purity, and that was possible only for Yudhishthira.

After receiving the Pratismriti knowledge from me, Yudhishthira began to practice it in his mind from time to time. But he would not be able to perform the full discipline of this knowledge. That right belonged only to Arjuna. Yudhishthira’s practice was really only an effort to keep the Vedic mantra in memory.

After some time had passed in this way, one day Yudhishthira said to Arjuna, "We have been living in the Dwaita forest for quite some time. It is not the rule of forest life to stay too long in one place. I think we should now go somewhere else. What do you think, younger brother?"

Arjuna answered at once, "If the great king has no objection, then we may go again to that Kamyaka forest. That forest is ideal for living in every way, and it is also safe."

"Yes, Arjuna, that is also my wish," Yudhishthira said. "After taking the permission of Rishi Dhaumya and choosing an auspicious day, we will go to the Kamyaka forest."

Hearing Yudhishthira’s words, Rishi Dhaumya gave his full permission. Bowing to all the ascetics and Veda-knowing Brahmins of the Dwaita forest, the Pandavas began their journey toward the Kamyaka forest on an auspicious day. Rishi Dhaumya walked before them.

The holy men were greatly delighted to have the five Pandavas back among them, and they considered themselves fortunate. With Vedic recitation, songs, hunting deer, and gathering fruits, the Pandavas passed their days quite happily.

But this happiness did not last long.

The time had come to say farewell for a long period to one among the five Pandavas. The other Pandavas did not know it, but King Yudhishthira knew that that great moment was drawing near. Now Arjuna would have to be sent away.

One day, calling Arjuna aside in private, King Yudhishthira said, "Brother Arjuna, I want to give you the duty of carrying out a very serious task."

"Please command me, great king," Arjuna replied. "I am always ready to obey your order."

Yudhishthira began slowly, choosing every word with care.

"Listen, younger brother. In the royal court of Hastinapura, the science of archery itself lives in the form of Drona, Kripa, Karna, and Ashwatthama. That science of arms has given special blessings to them. That is why each of them knows every kind of weapon knowledge—Brahma, divine, mental, and aerial. They also know how to use those weapons and how to counter them. And for that very reason Duryodhana serves each of them and stays near them like an obedient disciple."

Arjuna answered with confidence, though not with disrespect.

"Forgive me, elder brother. I do not speak proudly before you, but Guru Dronacharya has taught me the use of many kinds of weapons. In that learning I am in no way less than Karna and Ashwatthama."

"Arjuna, this is not the time for self-praise," Yudhishthira said firmly. "One should not treat others lightly in the science of weapons. Instead, judge the strengths and weaknesses of others, younger brother. We must prepare from now for the future war. Besides, villages, seas, cities, forests—everything is now under Duryodhana’s control, Arjuna. All the brave men in these kingdoms are under him."

Arjuna stepped closer.

"Do you fear something, great king? As long as Arjuna lives, be without fear, great king. That sinful Duryodhana and his followers will not be able to touch even a hair of yours."

"I have no fear, Arjuna," said Yudhishthira. "With all my heart I am only thinking of a great preparation. In that time of preparation, you must carry out a special duty, younger brother."

"Give the order, great king. I am ready."

Yudhishthira’s voice softened.

"You must carry our burden, brother. And for that, terrible penance is needed. You are very dear to me, and I have great faith in you. So my heart does not wish to place this fearful duty upon you. But, but I have no choice."

"If your blessing is with me, then nothing is hard for me," Arjuna said. "Tell me what I must do, great king."

Yudhishthira then revealed the secret.

"I, I have received a Vedic mantra from the great sage Vedavyasa. I will now tell you that mantra. Practice that mantra, Arjuna. The strange fire and strength that will be born in you from that practice will take you to the court of Indra, king of the gods, in heaven. All the weapons of the gods are in that court, Arjuna. Out of fear of Vritrasura, the gods have kept their weapons in Indra’s care. Please the king of the gods and the other gods, and bring back those weapons, Arjuna."

Arjuna bowed deeply.

"Your command is on my head, O king. For the destruction of the sinful sons of Dhritarashtra, I will go in search of divine weapons. Initiate me into that Vedic mantra."

Then Yudhishthira gave Arjuna the right to receive that Pratismriti knowledge. After receiving initiation from his elder brother, Arjuna sat near the Brahmins and ascetics and performed the sacred fire ritual. The Brahmins spoke words of blessing for him.

Then, by Yudhishthira’s order, Arjuna took up his bow on his shoulder, two inexhaustible quivers, sword, and armor, and before leaving for penance he asked the Brahmins for farewell.

The Brahmins and ascetics raised both hands and blessed him, saying, "O son of Kunti, may whatever you wish to gain truly come to you. May you be victorious, great hero."

Taking leave from the ascetics and receiving the blessings and good wishes of the four Pandavas, Arjuna then came and stood before Draupadi.

He would have to go very far away for a very long time. Draupadi’s heart was heavy with sorrow and sadness. But no, Krishnaa did not let that deep grief touch Arjuna. With fearless faith in her voice she came and said, "May the wish that Mother Kunti spoke at your birth, and the dream that you now see, be fulfilled. May no one else in our Kshatriya line have to live on begged food. Remember the cruel insult that that sinful Duryodhana gave me in the full royal court, Partha. By speaking of your bravery and fame, I will forget your absence. Return victorious, Partha. May good come to you."

Arjuna looked at her with steadiness and affection.

"The strength of your good wishes will travel with me, Panchali."

After taking leave from Draupadi, Arjuna, bearer of Gandiva, walked around his two elder brothers and Rishi Dhaumya in respect, and then set out northward.

Crossing many dangerous forests, groves, hills, and mountains, Arjuna reached the Himalayas. But now Arjuna had taken the path of yoga. For that reason, both the speed of his feet and the speed of his mind were sharp like the wind, free from laziness. Arjuna crossed the Himalayas and Mount Gandhamadana and moved onward with increasing speed.

As he went, he came to Mount Indrakila.

Just then a voice echoed from the sky. "Arjuna, stop here."

Arjuna wondered at once, Who told me to stop? A god, a man, a yaksha, or someone else? Is there really anyone on this earth who can stop Arjuna’s movement?

Arjuna stood on a slope of Mount Indrakila. All around was deep forest. His sight could not go far through the sky-touching trees. Looking here and there with curious eyes, Arjuna saw an ascetic. He was sitting under a tree. His color was tawny, and his bright glow seemed to spread light all around. He had huge matted hair on his head, but his body was very thin.

Looking at Arjuna, that Brahmin ascetic asked, "Who are you, child? From your weapons, you seem to be a Kshatriya. But on this mountain where you now stand, there is no need of weapons. This place belongs to ascetic Brahmins. They have neither anger nor joy of that kind. Then what will you do here with a bow? Whom will you kill? No wild beast of the forest can attack me either, child. There is no place for violence here. So no one will attack you here. There is no war here. That is why no Kshatriya has the right to enter here. You have come here only because of great fortune. Now cast away this bow."

The Brahmin kept smiling and speaking again and again about giving up the bow. But Arjuna stood firm in his vow. He held Gandiva tightly in his hand. Even after many requests from the Brahmin, he did not turn away from his resolve.

Seeing Arjuna firm in his vow, the Brahmin became pleased and looked at him kindly.

Then he said, "Child Arjuna, I am Indra, king of the gods. I am very pleased with you. May good come to you, son. Ask me for your boon."

Arjuna answered without hesitation. "O king of the gods, accept Arjuna’s bow. If you are truly pleased with me, then grant me this boon, that I may gain the right to all divine weapons."

Indra said, "What need do you have of weapons now, Arjuna? You have already reached the highest path. Now ask instead for heaven, which you desire."

Arjuna bowed, but his mind did not change.

"Forgive me, king of the gods. I do not ask for heaven, release, rule over the gods, or any other happiness. My only goal is revenge against my enemies. If I do not defeat my enemies, then my Kshatriya duty will be ruined. O king of the gods, please grant me the right to divine weapons."

Indra was pleased.

"Arjuna, I am pleased by your firmness and your devotion. But, child, if you wish to gain divine weapons, you must please Mahadeva, the great lord who bears the trident. You must gain his sight. Only when you succeed in the penance of Mahadeva will you gain the right to those weapons, Arjuna. Not before that."

After ordering Arjuna to perform penance to Mahadeva, Indra, king of the gods, vanished from there.

Arjuna then moved northward even faster, toward the peaks of the Himalayas, for his penance. On the way he came into a terrible forest. There was no lack of deadly snakes in that forest. There were fruits, of course, but there were no human beings. Fearless Arjuna, bearer of Gandiva, chose that very forest as the place for his penance.

As soon as Arjuna entered that deep forest, the sound of conch shells began in the sky. Huge clouds spread across the heavens. Flowers began to rain over the whole forest. Arjuna decided that he would perform his penance there.

Giving up his royal dress, the third Pandava wore bark cloth, a loincloth, a staff, and deer skin. Then his hard practice began. Every day he ate dry leaves fallen on the ground, and once every three days he ate a single fruit. After two months had passed in this way, in the third month he ate one fruit every fifteen days, and from the fourth month he lived only on air. Touching the ground with the tip of only one toe, with arms raised upward, Arjuna performed penance to Mahadeva.

By the force of Arjuna’s fierce penance, waves like lightning began to spread in all directions. The ascetics became frightened and troubled, and they came to Mahadeva on Kailasa.

"O god of gods, O Maheshwara, husband of Uma, O protector of all beings, save us, lord," they cried. "The third Pandava, Arjuna, has begun terrible penance. This world of living beings cannot bear the fire of his penance. The space around him has taken on a smoky color. Give fearlessness to living beings, Maheshwara. Give fearlessness to living beings, lord. If Arjuna has begun penance for gaining heaven, then conflict will begin between him and the gods. A terrible disaster will come in heaven and on earth, lord."

Mahadeva answered with perfect calm.

"Be calm, sages. There is nothing to fear from Arjuna. I know the purpose of his vow. He has no desire for heaven, endless wealth, or endless life. I will fulfill Arjuna’s prayer. Arjuna will do no harm to the world of men. Remain without worry."

When the ascetics left, Mahadeva himself took the form of a bright hunter, a Kirata. In one hand was the Pinaka bow, in the other a serpent-like weapon. Like living fire, Mahadeva came out swiftly from his abode. Goddess Uma, other goddesses, and Mahadeva’s followers, the spirits, all took the dress of hunters and huntresses and went with him.

In a moment that great forest became still and silent. The sounds of birds and the rustling of leaves were heard no more. In the dress of a Kirata, Mahadeva slowly came and stood at the place of Arjuna’s penance. But Arjuna, with closed eyes, could not see him.

Suddenly a terrible roar was heard in that forest. At that sudden roar Arjuna’s meditation broke. Opening his eyes, he saw a frightful boar rushing toward him from a distance at great speed. It was the forest’s terrible powerful demon, whose name was Muka. Arjuna did not know about him. But seeing that the attacker was rushing toward him with such force, Arjuna left his penance, took up Gandiva, and made the great bow thunder.

"I am a stranger here. I have harmed no one. Even so, since you want to kill me, then listen, boar—whoever you may be, I will send you at once to the house of death."

At that very moment another voice cried out, "Stop, hero. This terrible boar is actually my prey. I had decided to kill it first. Look here."

Arjuna looked and saw the hunter. His wonder grew.

"I have never seen you before. Your arrow too is just as swift and powerful as mine. Both arrows together, at the same moment, with the same speed, ended that boar’s life. How did you gain such wonderful power, Kirata? And why are there so many women around you? Are you not afraid to live in this lonely forest?"

The Kirata replied sharply, "Afraid? I am afraid? Are you mocking me? You have stolen my prey, and even after that you mock me? You want to insult me on purpose, do you not? Wait, Kirata, you will not escape alive from my hands."

Then the hunter said, "We have always lived here, prince. This forest is not unknown to us. You need not fear any attack from me. But you shine like fire, and you have the brightness of a king. Yet you move alone in this forest full of danger. This hard place does not suit you, prince. You do not even know the rules of hunting, and so you shot your arrow at my prey."

Arjuna’s anger rose.

"You are only a common hunter. Will you teach me rules? You have come to my place and insulted me? You want to take away my prey? Now you will not escape from my hand. Come, fight. Answer arrow with arrow. Let me see your power. Look, now you will die, fool, fool, fool."

The battle began at once.

Strange, who is this hunter really? Arjuna wondered. Is he Mahadeva himself, or Yama himself, or some ghost or yaksha? How is he swallowing all these fierce arrows of mine one by one? Even my inexhaustible quiver is no longer giving me fresh arrows. What shall I fight with now? No, I will strike that hunter with the tip of this Gandiva itself.

Arjuna rushed forward and struck him.

The Kirata smiled. "I received even this blow of yours with a smile, hero. Do you still have any weapon left?"

Arjuna drew his sword.

"Have you seen this shining sword? Even Yama himself will not ignore it. With the blow of this sword I will send you to the world of death. This..."

But even as he struck, Arjuna was stunned. Look, even such a sharp sword strike did not draw even a little blood from that Kirata’s head. Strange. No, no, whether that Kirata is a demon, a yaksha, or whoever he is, I will kill him with the blow of that huge tree and those rocks. Beware, now you will die, Kirata, you will die.

The hunter only laughed.

"Fool, fool. You want to kill me? Come then, wrestle with me. Let me see how great a hero you are."

Then Mahadeva, in the form of the Kirata, seized Arjuna and pressed him terribly against his chest. Arjuna became bloody and almost unconscious. Before his eyes, the whole world seemed to rise and turn. The bright body of that Kirata began to grow more and more vast. Using the last strength left in his body, Arjuna kept looking that way, and then lost consciousness and fell.

After a long time, when his outer awareness returned, he stood up with his bleeding body. With the soil of the forest he made an earthen image of Mahadeva and began to worship it. But when he himself strung a garland and was about to place it around the neck of that clay image, the sight he suddenly saw was something Arjuna was not at all ready for.

What is this! How did the garland placed on Mahadeva’s image become wrapped around the top of that Kirata’s head? Then does that mean...

At once Arjuna fell before him.

"O lord, O god of gods, forgive all my offenses, lord. Forgive all my offenses, lord. You yourself, O Maheshwara, have appeared before me, and yet, lost in delusion, I could not recognize you, recognize you. Lord, please forgive, forgive all my faults."

The Lord spoke with great kindness.

"You have committed no fault, Arjuna. I am greatly pleased by your bravery and patience. There is no Kshatriya equal to you in all this world, child. You can conquer all enemies and even the gods. I give you divine sight, Arjuna. Now behold my true form. Look, Arjuna. See my supreme form together with Parvati, my power. Without a divine body and divine being, no one else can see this form."

Arjuna then praised him with reverence.

"O Mahadeva, lord of gods, destroyer before whom all beings bow, blue-throated one, wearer of matted hair, O Maheshwara, you are the creator of the creator. You are beyond nature and spirit. You are the doer of the world’s welfare, the finest, the fourth state, the form of Brahman. I have come remembering only you, lord. Forgive the offense I committed without understanding anything."

Mahadeva smiled.

"I have forgiven you, Arjuna. Come, Partha, let me embrace you. In a previous birth, in Badrikashrama, beside Narayana, you performed terrible penance for countless years as the sage Nara, child. By the power of Narayana himself and by your great radiance, you two protect this world."

Arjuna bowed again.

"Your endless grace, O god of gods."

Then Mahadeva spoke further.

"Best of men, Arjuna, at the time of the crowning of Indra, king of the gods, you and Vishnu held a great and terrible sounding bow and restrained the whole race of demons. Here, Arjuna, I had swallowed that bow. This is that Gandiva bow. It shines only in your hands. Let your two inexhaustible quivers become full again. Let your body be free from pain, Arjuna. I wish to give you a boon. Tell me, what boon do you want?"

Arjuna knew at once what he desired most.

"O Mahadeva, if you are truly pleased with me, then give me the right to that enemy-destroying, world-destroying Pashupata weapon, lord. In the great war against Drona, Kripa, and Karna, that weapon alone will be my shelter. When made alive by mantra, from that weapon come thousands of spears, terrible maces, and countless arrows. O lord, if I do not gain the blessing of that weapon, I will not be able to win."

Mahadeva answered with solemn power.

"Arjuna, in the three worlds no one but I am worthy of the Pashupata weapon. Indra, Yama, Kubera, Varuna—none of them knows how to use this weapon. Men are even lesser. Yet I will give you the right to this weapon, because you are worthy of it. But use this weapon with great care. Never throw this weapon against the weak. Then the world will be burned."

Arjuna accepted the command.

"Your command is on my head, lord. Now please teach me the use of this weapon and how to withdraw it, O lord."

"Arjuna, this Pashupata is terrible like living Yama. You will be able to release this weapon by mind, eye, speech, and bow. Come, Partha, sit with one-pointed mind. I will teach you this weapon."

Mahadeva himself gave Arjuna the full teaching of the mantra, signs, use, and withdrawal of the Pashupata weapon. Just as the Pashupata belonged to Shiva, in the same way this divine weapon now became obedient to Arjuna.

Taking on a terrible form, the Pashupata stood beside Arjuna and began to send out fire. Seeing that dreadful power, gods, demons, yakshas, and rakshasas all cried out in wonder. Mountains, forests, cities, seas—the whole earth began to tremble in terrible fear, as if it were the time of destruction. Through sky and air rose the sounds of thousands and thousands of conches, drums, and war instruments. The trees of the deep forest began to shake violently.

On his right stood the Pashupata weapon, and before him stood Mahadeva himself.

In helpless amazement, Arjuna’s mind seemed to fill with the image of the end of the world. Was creation to be destroyed in this very way? Even looking at Mahadeva’s gentle smile, Arjuna could not become calm. In his mind he kept praying only for Mahadeva’s shelter.

Grace of the Lord worshipped by all worlds. Grace of the Lord worshipped by all worlds.