In the previous episode, we had witnessed an intense war of words breaking out between Arjuna and a “Hunter” (Bhagawan Shiva in a disguised form). As Arjuna is performing his penance at the highest level, he is disturbed by a wild boar which is speeding in front of him! Arjuna however was quick enough to take his bow and arrow and thwart its approach path! However, what Arjuna did not expect here was another arrow coming at virtually the same speed and hitting the wild boar at precisely the same time! Both these arrows meet each other and the wild boar dies on the spot! Now the argument begins – There’s a hunter in front of Arjuna and he argues that it is only because of his shrewd presence of mind that Arjuna was saved on time! However, Arjuna did not want to accept this argument as his ego presented itself right in front of him! Arjuna denies the hunter’s statement and establishes that he was able to save himself and did not want any external help, as he is a great “Kshatrya prince” himself! However, the hunter isn’t ready to relent either! As both of them stick on to their stance, a huge war of words break out between them! As this escalates further, a physical fight endures as well, and both of them started to virtually attack each other!
As the fight goes on, Arjuna at one stage picks up his huge “Gaandeepa” bow and tries to aim one sharp arrow against the hunter – Only for the hunter to be extremely quick to react! The hunter immediately jumps over Arjuna and plucks away his “Gaandeepa” bow from his hands quite easily! Upon seeing this, Arjuna is stunned! Not even once till this time did anyone have the audacity to jump over him and snatch away the “Gaandeepa” from his hands! Holding this “Gaandeepa” itself is not easy for anyone as it is extremely heavy in nature! But if someone is able to easily snatch it and throw it away, this person isn’t an ordinary person at all! However, even before Arjuna obtains this realization, Bhagawan Shiva unleashes another part of His “Maya” (Illusion)! He tempts Arjuna to fight even more! Carried away by the “hunter’s” invitation to continue the fight further, Arjuna prepares himself for a physical muscular fight! For this, he also picks up some stones and branches from the ground and aims all of them at the hunter’s head! However, the hunter is extremely quick enough to thwart all whatever Arjuna is throwing upon him! A bitter physical fight endures between both of them, and somehow as Arjuna is inflicting lusty blows one after the other, the hunter is literally unmoved!
Unable to believe what he is seeing in front of him, finally Arjuna comes back to his senses and asks the hunter thus, “Oh hunter! I feel that you’re not an ordinary person! Till now nobody has even dared to come in front of my “Gaandeepa” but you managed to pluck it away from me so easily! Till now I’ve never lost to someone in terms of the “Dvandha-Yuddham” (Physical fight) as well. But how much ever I hit you, you seem to be completely unmoved and unhurt! How can this be? You seem to be a very mysterious person. I’ve seen such immense raw muscle power in my brother, Bheemasena, but you’re seeming to be one step higher than him too! So please tell me who you are, and why did you come here? I accept my defeat in front of you!”
As Arjuna asks thus, Bhagawan Shiva reveals His true form in front of him! Upon seeing Bhagawan Shiva in front of him, Arjuna doesn’t know what to speak! He is completely in tears of joy! As Arjuna cries out and falls on His feet, Bhagawan Shiva provides Arjuna with His divine “Anugraha” with all His compassion! With this, Arjuna is singing in praise of Bhagawan Shiva extensively, which Sage Vyaasa has also beautifully captured in this current “Adhyaaya” itself! As Arjuna does so, Bhagawan Shiva replies to him thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please do not worry! You’ve not done anything wrong. It is me who wanted to test your valour and perseverance! You’ve successfully passed my test and I’m extremely happy with the way you’ve conducted yourself in front of me! I was very pleased with your immense “Tapas” towards me and I wanted to appear in front of you to provide you the important “Paashupatha-Asthra”. This is a very important “Asthra” and it is extremely powerful. When the time comes, you may employ this “Asthra”, by just thinking and praying towards me! It would make you emerge extremely successful against your enemies! Moreover, you would also be gifted with many such “Asthras” in the near future by all the “Devatas” (Celestial Beings) and I shall pave the way for the same! Oh Arjuna! Please do not worry! Success is all yours!”
As Bhagawan Shiva says thus, Arjuna is extremely happy and once again seeks His divine “Anugraha”. As requested, Bhagwan Shiva too provides His divine “Anugraha” to Arjuna and He departs from that place! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and let us rejoice the fact that Arjuna has obtained Bhagawan Shiva’s divine “Anugraha”, which is actually not easy to obtain! We shall also try our best to obtain Bhagawan Shiva’s “Anugraha” as we wait till the next episode to witness what happened to Arjuna next! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 