Arjuna Tells of the Kirata and the Pashupata Weapon

Verse 1 (3.168.1)

यथागतं गते शक्रे भ्रातृभिः सह संगतः । कृष्णया चैव बीभत्सुर्धर्मराजमपूजयत् ॥

yathāgataṃ gate śakre bhrātṛbhiḥ saha saṃgataḥ | kṛṣṇayā caiva bībhatsurdharmarājamapūjayat

When Shakra had gone back the way he came, Bibhatsu (Arjuna), reunited with his brothers and with Krishna (Draupadi), paid homage to the King of Dharma.

Note on the text: Speaker heading printed as वैशपायन उवाच on the raw page (a dropped akshara); given as वैशम्पायन.

Verse 2 (3.168.2)

अभिवादयमानं तं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय पाण्डवम् । हर्षगद्गदया वाचा प्रहृष्टोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत् ॥

abhivādayamānaṃ taṃ mūrdhnyupāghrāya pāṇḍavam | harṣagadgadayā vācā prahṛṣṭo'rjunamabravīt

As the Pandava bowed in greeting, Yudhishthira kissed his head and, overjoyed, spoke to Arjuna in a voice choked with delight:

Verse 3 (3.168.3)

कथमर्जुन कालोऽयं स्वर्गे व्यतिगतस्तव । कथं चास्त्राण्यवाप्तानि देवराजश्च तोषितः ॥

kathamarjuna kālo'yaṃ svarge vyatigatastava | kathaṃ cāstrāṇyavāptāni devarājaśca toṣitaḥ

"Arjuna, how did you pass this time in heaven? How did you obtain the weapons, and how did you satisfy the king of the gods?

Note on the text: Corrected रव्यतिगतस्तव → व्यतिगतस्तव (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र, the critical edition reads vyatigatas tava). Speaker: Yudhishthira's question (verses 3–8) has no printed heading; given to him rather than carrying over Vaishampayana.

Verse 4 (3.168.4)

सम्यग्वा ते गृहीतानि कच्चिदस्त्राणि पाण्डव । कच्चित्सुराधिपः प्रीतो रुद्रश्चास्त्राण्यदात्तव ॥

samyagvā te gṛhītāni kaccidastrāṇi pāṇḍava | kaccitsurādhipaḥ prīto rudraścāstrāṇyadāttava

Have you mastered the weapons properly, Pandava? Was the lord of the gods pleased with you, and did Rudra give you his weapons?

Verse 5 (3.168.5)

यथा दृष्टश्च ते शक्रो भगवान्वा पिनाकधृत् । यथैवास्त्राण्यवाप्तानि यथैवाराधिताश्च ते ॥

yathā dṛṣṭaśca te śakro bhagavānvā pinākadhṛt | yathaivāstrāṇyavāptāni yathaivārādhitāśca te

Tell me how you saw Shakra, or the blessed bearer of Pinaka, how you obtained the weapons, and how you won their favour.

Verse 6 (3.168.6)

यथोक्तवांस्त्वां भगवाञ्शतक्रतुररिंदम । कृतप्रियस्त्वयाऽस्मीति तस्य ते किं प्रियं कृतम् ॥

yathoktavāṃstvāṃ bhagavāñśatakraturariṃdama | kṛtapriyastvayā'smīti tasya te kiṃ priyaṃ kṛtam

The blessed Shatakratu told you, tamer of foes, "You have done me a kindness." What was that kindness you did him?

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 3.163.6–7 (two six-line verses) into three verses: this verse is CE 3.163.6ab–cd.

Verse 7 (3.168.7)

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण महाद्युते । यथा तुष्टो महादेवो देवराजस्तथाऽनघ ॥

etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ vistareṇa mahādyute | yathā tuṣṭo mahādevo devarājastathā'nagha

This I wish to hear in full, radiant one: how the great god Mahadeva was satisfied, and likewise the king of the gods, sinless one;

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 3.163.6ef, line 2 is CE 3.163.7ab (devarājaś ca te 'nagha in the critical edition).

Verse 8 (3.168.8)

यच्चापि वज्रपाणेस्तु प्रियं कृतमरिंदम । एतदाख्याहि मे सर्वमखिलेन धनंजय ॥

yaccāpi vajrapāṇestu priyaṃ kṛtamariṃdama | etadākhyāhi me sarvamakhilena dhanaṃjaya

and what kindness you did for the wielder of the thunderbolt, tamer of foes. Tell me all of it, Dhananjaya, leaving nothing out."

Note on the text: CE 3.163.7cd–ef.

Verse 9 (3.168.9)

शृणु हन्त महाराज विधिना येन दृष्टवान् । शतक्रतुमहं देवं भगवन्तं च शंकरम् ॥

śṛṇu hanta mahārāja vidhinā yena dṛṣṭavān | śatakratumahaṃ devaṃ bhagavantaṃ ca śaṃkaram

Listen, great king, to the way in which I saw the god Shatakratu and the blessed Shankara.

Verse 10 (3.168.10)

विद्यामधीत्य तां राजंस्त्वयोक्तामरिमर्दन । भवता च समादिष्टस्तपसे प्रस्थितो वनम् ॥

vidyāmadhītya tāṃ rājaṃstvayoktāmarimardana | bhavatā ca samādiṣṭastapase prasthito vanam

Having learned the lore you taught me, king, crusher of foes, and at your bidding, I set out for the forest to practise austerity.

Verse 11 (3.168.11)

भृगुतुङ्गमथो गत्वा काम्यकादास्थितस्तपः । एकरात्रोषितः कंचिदपश्यं ब्राह्मणं पथि ॥

bhṛgutuṅgamatho gatvā kāmyakādāsthitastapaḥ | ekarātroṣitaḥ kaṃcidapaśyaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ pathi

From Kamyaka I went to Bhrigutunga and began my austerity. After I had stayed there one night, I saw a certain brahmin on the road.

Note on the text: Corrected भृगुतुन्दम् → भृगुतुङ्गम् (misprint in Wikisource; न्द for ङ्ग, the mountain is Bhrigutunga, as the critical edition reads bhṛgutuṅgam).

Verse 12 (3.168.12)

स मामपृच्छत्कौन्तेय क्वासि गन्ता ब्रवीहि मे । तस्मा अवितथं सर्वमब्रवं कुरुनन्दन ॥

sa māmapṛcchatkaunteya kvāsi gantā bravīhi me | tasmā avitathaṃ sarvamabravaṃ kurunandana

He asked me, "Son of Kunti, where are you going? Tell me." And I told him everything truthfully, joy of the Kurus.

Verse 13 (3.168.13)

स तथ्यं मम तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणो राजसत्तम । अपूजयत मां राजन्प्रीतिमांश्चाभवन्मयि ॥

sa tathyaṃ mama tacchrutvā brāhmaṇo rājasattama | apūjayata māṃ rājanprītimāṃścābhavanmayi

Hearing my true account, best of kings, the brahmin honoured me, king, and grew fond of me.

Verse 14 (3.168.14)

ततो मामब्रवीत्प्रीतस्तप आतिष्ठ भारत । तपस्वी नचिरेण त्वं द्रक्ष्यसे विबुधाधिपम् ॥

tato māmabravītprītastapa ātiṣṭha bhārata | tapasvī nacireṇa tvaṃ drakṣyase vibudhādhipam

Then, pleased, he said to me, "Undertake austerity, Bharata. As an ascetic you will before long see the lord of the gods."

Note on the text: Corrected विबुधाधिषम् → विबुधाधिपम् (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प, the critical edition reads vibudhādhipam).

Verse 15 (3.168.15)

ततोऽहं वचनात्तस्य गिरिमारुह्य शैशिरम् । तपोऽतप्यं महाराज मासं मूलफलाशनः ॥

tato'haṃ vacanāttasya girimāruhya śaiśiram | tapo'tapyaṃ mahārāja māsaṃ mūlaphalāśanaḥ

Then, at his word, I climbed the snowy mountain and practised austerity, great king, living for a month on roots and fruit.

Verse 16 (3.168.16)

द्वितीयश्चापि मे मासो जलं भक्षयतो गतः । निराहारस्तृतीयेऽथ मासे पाण्डवनन्दन ॥

dvitīyaścāpi me māso jalaṃ bhakṣayato gataḥ | nirāhārastṛtīye'tha māse pāṇḍavanandana

My second month passed with water as my only food; in the third month I ate nothing at all, delight of the Pandavas.

Verse 17 (3.168.17)

ऊर्ध्वबाहुश्चतुर्थं तु मासमस्मि स्थितस्तदा । न च मे हीयते प्राणस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

ūrdhvabāhuścaturthaṃ tu māsamasmi sthitastadā | na ca me hīyate prāṇastadadbhutamivābhavat

Through the fourth month I stood with my arms raised. Yet my strength did not fail, and that seemed a wonder.

Verse 18 (3.168.18)

पञ्चमे त्वथ संप्राप्ते प्रथमे दिवसे गते । वराहसंस्थितं भूतं मत्समीपं समागमत् ॥

pañcame tvatha saṃprāpte prathame divase gate | varāhasaṃsthitaṃ bhūtaṃ matsamīpaṃ samāgamat

When the fifth month had come and its first day had passed, a being in the shape of a boar came near me,

Verse 19 (3.168.19)

निघ्नन्प्रोथेन पृथिवीं विलिखंश्चरणैरपि । संमार्जञ्जठरेणोर्वीं विवर्तंश्च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

nighnanprothena pṛthivīṃ vilikhaṃścaraṇairapi | saṃmārjañjaṭhareṇorvīṃ vivartaṃśca muhurmuhuḥ

striking the ground with its snout, scraping it with its feet, sweeping the earth with its belly and rolling about again and again.

Verse 20 (3.168.20)

अनु तस्यापरं भूतं महत्कैरातसंस्थितम् । धनुर्बाणासिमत्प्राप्तं स्त्रीगणानुगतं तदा ॥

anu tasyāparaṃ bhūtaṃ mahatkairātasaṃsthitam | dhanurbāṇāsimatprāptaṃ strīgaṇānugataṃ tadā

Behind it came another being, a huge one in the form of a Kirata (a mountain hunter), carrying bow, arrows and sword, and followed by a troop of women.

Verse 21 (3.168.21)

ततोऽहं धनुरादाय तथाऽक्षय्ये महेषुधी । अताडयं शरेणाथ तद्भूतं रोमहर्षणम् ॥

tato'haṃ dhanurādāya tathā'kṣayye maheṣudhī | atāḍayaṃ śareṇātha tadbhūtaṃ romaharṣaṇam

Then I took up my bow and my two great inexhaustible quivers and struck that hair-raising being with an arrow.

Verse 22 (3.168.22)

युगपत्तं किरातस्तु विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः । अभ्याजघ्ने दृढतरं कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥

yugapattaṃ kirātastu vikṛṣya balavaddhanuḥ | abhyājaghne dṛḍhataraṃ kampayanniva medinīm

At the same moment the Kirata drew his mighty bow and struck it still harder, as though making the earth tremble.

Note on the text: Corrected युपत्तं → युगपत्तं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, the critical edition reads yugapat).

Verse 23 (3.168.23)

स तु मामब्रवीद्राजन्मम पूर्वपरिग्रहः । मृगयाधर्ममुत्सृज्य किमर्थं ताडितस्त्वया ॥

sa tu māmabravīdrājanmama pūrvaparigrahaḥ | mṛgayādharmamutsṛjya kimarthaṃ tāḍitastvayā

Then he said to me, king, "It was mine; I had claimed it first. Why did you strike it, setting aside the rule of the hunt?

Note on the text: Corrected सतु → स तु (word-spacing slip in Wikisource; the critical edition has sa tu).

Verse 24 (3.168.24)

एष ते निशितैर्बाणैर्दर्पं हन्मि स्थिरो भव । संघर्षवान्महाकायस्ततो मामभ्यधावत ॥

eṣa te niśitairbāṇairdarpaṃ hanmi sthiro bhava | saṃgharṣavānmahākāyastato māmabhyadhāvata

With these sharp arrows I will crush your pride. Stand firm!" And with that the huge-bodied challenger rushed at me.

Verse 25 (3.168.25)

ततो गिरिमिवात्यर्थमावृणोन्मां महाशरैः । तं चाहं शरवर्षेण महता समवाकिरम् ॥

tato girimivātyarthamāvṛṇonmāṃ mahāśaraiḥ | taṃ cāhaṃ śaravarṣeṇa mahatā samavākiram

Then he covered me with great arrows as one might bury a mountain, and I in turn showered him with a mighty rain of arrows.

Verse 26 (3.168.26)

ततः शरैर्दीप्तमुखैर्यन्त्रितैरनु यन्त्रितैः । प्रत्यविध्यमहं तं तु वज्रैरिव शिलोच्चयम् ॥

tataḥ śarairdīptamukhairyantritairanu yantritaiḥ | pratyavidhyamahaṃ taṃ tu vajrairiva śiloccayam

Then with flaming-tipped arrows, drawn hard and harder still, I pierced him in return, as thunderbolts pierce a mountain.

Verse 27 (3.168.27)

तस्य तच्छतधा रूपमभवच्च सहस्रधा । तानि चास्य शरीराणि शरैरहमताडयम् ॥

tasya tacchatadhā rūpamabhavacca sahasradhā | tāni cāsya śarīrāṇi śarairahamatāḍayam

His form became a hundredfold, then a thousandfold, and I struck all those bodies of his with arrows.

Verse 28 (3.168.28)

पुनस्तानि शरीराणि एकीभूतानि भारत । अदृश्यन्त महाराज तान्यहं व्यधमं पुनः ॥

punastāni śarīrāṇi ekībhūtāni bhārata | adṛśyanta mahārāja tānyahaṃ vyadhamaṃ punaḥ

Then those bodies were seen merged into one again, Bharata, great king, and I struck them down once more.

Verse 29 (3.168.29)

अणुर्बृहच्छिरा भूत्वा बृहच्चाणुशिराः पुनः । एकीभूतस्तदा राजन्सोऽभ्यवर्तत मां युधि ॥

aṇurbṛhacchirā bhūtvā bṛhaccāṇuśirāḥ punaḥ | ekībhūtastadā rājanso'bhyavartata māṃ yudhi

Becoming small with a huge head, and again huge with a tiny head, then one once more, king, he came at me in the fight.

Verse 30 (3.168.30)

यदाऽभिभवितुं बाणैर्न च शक्नोमि तं रणे । ततो महास्त्रमातिष्ठं वायव्यं भरतर्षभ ॥

yadā'bhibhavituṃ bāṇairna ca śaknomi taṃ raṇe | tato mahāstramātiṣṭhaṃ vāyavyaṃ bharatarṣabha

When I could not overcome him in battle with arrows, I resorted to the great Vayavya weapon, bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 31 (3.168.31)

न चैनमशकं हन्तुं तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् । तस्मिन्प्रतिहते चास्त्रे विस्मयो मे महानभूत् ॥

na cainamaśakaṃ hantuṃ tadadbhutamivābhavat | tasminpratihate cāstre vismayo me mahānabhūt

Even so I could not kill him, and that seemed a wonder. When that weapon was foiled, great amazement came over me.

Verse 32 (3.168.32)

तत्रापि च महाराज सविशेषमहं ततः । अस्त्रपूगेन महता रणे भूतमवाकिरम् ॥

tatrāpi ca mahārāja saviśeṣamahaṃ tataḥ | astrapūgena mahatā raṇe bhūtamavākiram

Even then, great king, I pressed on still harder and covered that being in battle with a great volley of weapons.

Verse 33 (3.168.33)

स्थूणाकर्णमथो जालं शरवर्षं शरोल्वणम् । शलभास्त्रमश्मवर्षं समास्थायाहमभ्ययाम् ॥

sthūṇākarṇamatho jālaṃ śaravarṣaṃ śarolvaṇam | śalabhāstramaśmavarṣaṃ samāsthāyāhamabhyayām

I advanced on him wielding the Sthunakarna weapon, then the Jala weapon (the net of waters), a dense storm of arrows, the Shalabha (locust) weapon and a shower of stones.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 3.163.32–33 (two six-line verses) into three verses: this verse is CE 3.163.32ab–cd. The critical edition reads ayojālaṃ and śailāstram (the Wikisource commentary also records शैलास्त्र as a variant); the Wikisource readings जालं and शलभास्त्रम् are kept.

Verse 34 (3.168.34)

जग्रास प्रसभं तानि सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि मे नृप । तेषु सर्वेषु जग्धेषु ब्रह्मास्त्रं महदादिशम् ॥

jagrāsa prasabhaṃ tāni sarvāṇyastrāṇi me nṛpa | teṣu sarveṣu jagdheṣu brahmāstraṃ mahadādiśam

He swallowed all those weapons of mine by force, king. When they had all been devoured, I discharged the mighty Brahma weapon.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 3.163.32ef, line 2 is CE 3.163.33ab.

Verse 35 (3.168.35)

ततः प्रज्वलितैर्बाणैः सर्वतश्चोपचीयत । उपचीयमानश्च तदा महास्त्रेण व्यवर्धत ॥

tataḥ prajvalitairbāṇaiḥ sarvataścopacīyata | upacīyamānaśca tadā mahāstreṇa vyavardhata

Then it mounted up on every side with blazing arrows, and as it mounted, it grew ever greater through that mighty weapon.

Note on the text: CE 3.163.33cd–ef.

Verse 36 (3.168.36)

ततः संतापिता लोका मत्प्रसूतेन तेजसा । क्षणेन हि दिशः खं च सर्वतो हि विदीपितम् ॥

tataḥ saṃtāpitā lokā matprasūtena tejasā | kṣaṇena hi diśaḥ khaṃ ca sarvato hi vidīpitam

Then the worlds were scorched by the blaze I had loosed; in an instant the quarters and the sky were lit up on every side.

Note on the text: Corrected क्षणएन → क्षणेन, स्वं → खं and विदीपितं → विदीपितम् (misprints in Wikisource; a broken vowel sign, स्व for ख, and an anusvara at the verse end; the critical edition reads kṣaṇena, khaṃ and -dīpitam).

Verse 37 (3.168.37)

तदप्यस्त्रं महातेजाः क्षणेनैव व्यशामयत् । ब्रह्मास्त्रे तु हते राजन्भयं मां महदाविशत् ॥

tadapyastraṃ mahātejāḥ kṣaṇenaiva vyaśāmayat | brahmāstre tu hate rājanbhayaṃ māṃ mahadāviśat

That too the mighty one quelled in a moment. When the Brahma weapon had been destroyed, king, a great fear came over me.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्र्हमास्त्रे → ब्रह्मास्त्रे (misprint in Wikisource; a broken conjunct, the critical edition reads brahmāstre).

Verse 38 (3.168.38)

ततोऽहं धनुरादाय तथाऽक्षय्ये महेषुधी । सहसाऽभ्यहनं भूतं तान्यप्यस्त्राण्यभक्षयत् ॥

tato'haṃ dhanurādāya tathā'kṣayye maheṣudhī | sahasā'bhyahanaṃ bhūtaṃ tānyapyastrāṇyabhakṣayat

Then I took up my bow and the two great inexhaustible quivers and suddenly struck the being; but it devoured those weapons too.

Verse 39 (3.168.39)

एतेष्वस्त्रेषु भूतेन भक्षितेष्वायुधेषु च । मम तस्य च भूतस्य बाहुयुद्धमवर्तत ॥

eteṣvastreṣu bhūtena bhakṣiteṣvāyudheṣu ca | mama tasya ca bhūtasya bāhuyuddhamavartata

When these weapons and all my arms had been devoured by the being, a fight with bare arms began between me and that being.

Note on the text: Corrected तस् → तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, the critical edition reads tasya).

Verse 40 (3.168.40)

व्यायामं मुष्टिभिः कृत्वा तलैरभिसमाहतौ । अपातयच्च तद्भूतमहं चापातयं महीम् ॥

vyāyāmaṃ muṣṭibhiḥ kṛtvā talairabhisamāhatau | apātayacca tadbhūtamahaṃ cāpātayaṃ mahīm

We grappled, striking each other with fists and with open palms; the being threw me down, and I threw it to the ground.

Note on the text: Corrected अपायच्च → अपातयच्च (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara that also leaves the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads apātayac ca).

Verse 41 (3.168.41)

ततः प्रहस्य तद्भूतं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । सह स्त्रीभिर्महाराज पश्यतो मेऽद्भुतोपमम् ॥

tataḥ prahasya tadbhūtaṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata | saha strībhirmahārāja paśyato me'dbhutopamam

Then the being laughed and vanished on the spot together with the women, great king, as I looked on: a thing like a marvel.

Verse 42 (3.168.42)

मुख्यं कृत्वा स भगवांस्ततोऽन्यद्रूपमात्मनः । दिव्यमेव महाराज वसानोऽद्भुतमम्बरम् ॥

mukhyaṃ kṛtvā sa bhagavāṃstato'nyadrūpamātmanaḥ | divyameva mahārāja vasāno'dbhutamambaram

Then the Lord took on another form of his own, a supreme and divine one, great king, clothed in wondrous garments;

Note on the text: Corrected वरानो → वसानो (misprint in Wikisource; र for स, the critical edition reads vasāno 'dbhutam ambaram).

Verse 43 (3.168.43)

हित्वा किरातरूपं च भगवांस्त्रिदशेश्वरः । स्वरूपं दिव्यमास्थाय तस्थौ तत्र महेश्वरः ॥

hitvā kirātarūpaṃ ca bhagavāṃstridaśeśvaraḥ | svarūpaṃ divyamāsthāya tasthau tatra maheśvaraḥ

casting off his Kirata form, the blessed lord of the Thirty gods assumed his own divine form, and Maheshvara stood there.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्यौ → तस्थौ (misprint in Wikisource; य for थ) and restored तत्र from the critical edition (3.163.41: tasthau tatra maheśvaraḥ); Wikisource has lost the word, leaving the line two syllables short.

Verse 44 (3.168.44)

सोऽदृश्यत ततः साक्षाद्भगवान्गोवृषध्वजः । धनुर्गृह्य तदा पाणौ बहुरूपः पिनाकधृत् ॥

so'dṛśyata tataḥ sākṣādbhagavāngovṛṣadhvajaḥ | dhanurgṛhya tadā pāṇau bahurūpaḥ pinākadhṛt

Then the blessed lord whose banner bears the bull appeared before me in person, many-formed, bearer of Pinaka, now holding the bow in his hand.

Note on the text: Corrected धनुर्गृह्यतदा → धनुर्गृह्य तदा (word-spacing slip in Wikisource). The second line differs from the critical edition (umāsahāyo haridṛg); the Wikisource reading is kept.

Verse 45 (3.168.45)

स मामभ्येत्य समरे तथैवाभिमुखं स्थितम् । शूलपाणिरथोवाच तुष्टोस्मीति परंतप ॥

sa māmabhyetya samare tathaivābhimukhaṃ sthitam | śūlapāṇirathovāca tuṣṭosmīti paraṃtapa

Coming up to me as I stood facing him in the fight, the trident-bearer said, "I am pleased with you," scorcher of foes.

Verse 46 (3.168.46)

ततस्तद्धनुरादाय तूणौ चाक्षय्यसायकौ । प्रादान्ममैव भगवान्वरयस्वेति चाब्रवीत् ॥

tatastaddhanurādāya tūṇau cākṣayyasāyakau | prādānmamaiva bhagavānvarayasveti cābravīt

Then the Lord took that bow and the two quivers of unending arrows, gave them back to me, and said, "Choose a boon."

Verse 47 (3.168.47)

तुष्टोस्मि तव कौन्तेय ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते । मनोगतं वीर यत्ते तद्ब्रूहि वितराम्यहम् । अमरत्वमपाहाय ब्रूहि यत्ते मनोगतम् ॥

tuṣṭosmi tava kaunteya brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te | manogataṃ vīra yatte tadbrūhi vitarāmyaham | amaratvamapāhāya brūhi yatte manogatam

"I am pleased with you, son of Kunti. Tell me, what shall I do for you? Whatever is in your heart, hero, say it and I will grant it. Leaving aside immortality, tell me what is in your heart."

Note on the text: Speaker: Shiva's words fill the whole verse (introduced by वरयस्वेति चाब्रवीत् in the previous verse) without a printed heading; given to Mahadeva.

Verse 48 (3.168.48)

ततः प्राञ्जलिरेवाहमस्त्रेषु कृतमानसः । प्रणम्य शिरसा शर्वं ततो वचनमाददे ॥

tataḥ prāñjalirevāhamastreṣu kṛtamānasaḥ | praṇamya śirasā śarvaṃ tato vacanamādade

Then, with joined palms and my mind set on weapons, I bowed my head to Sharva and spoke these words:

Note on the text: Corrected प्राञ्डलि → प्राञ्जलि (misprint in Wikisource; ड for ज, the critical edition reads prāñjalir).

Verse 49 (3.168.49)

भगवान्मे प्रसन्नश्चेदीप्सितोऽयं वरो मम । अस्त्राणीच्छाम्यहं ज्ञातुं यानि देवेषु कानिचित् ॥

bhagavānme prasannaścedīpsito'yaṃ varo mama | astrāṇīcchāmyahaṃ jñātuṃ yāni deveṣu kānicit

"If the Lord is gracious to me, this is the boon I desire: I wish to know the weapons, whatever weapons the gods possess."

Note on the text: Corrected भगवानमे → भगवान्मे (misprint in Wikisource; a lost virama, the critical edition reads bhagavān me). Wikisource divides CE 3.163.47–49 differently: this verse is CE 3.163.47ab–cd.

Verse 50 (3.168.50)

ददानीत्येव भगवानब्रवीत्र्यम्बकश्च माम् । रौद्रमस्त्रं मदीयं त्वामुपस्थास्यति पाण्डव ॥

dadānītyeva bhagavānabravītryambakaśca mām | raudramastraṃ madīyaṃ tvāmupasthāsyati pāṇḍava

"I grant it," said the blessed Tryambaka to me. "My own Raudra weapon will come to you, Pandava."

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 3.163.47ef, line 2 is CE 3.163.48ab.

Verse 51 (3.168.51)

प्रददौ च मम प्रीतः सोऽस्त्रं पाशुपतं प्रभुः । उवाच च महादेवो दत्त्वा मेऽस्त्रं सनातनम् ॥

pradadau ca mama prītaḥ so'straṃ pāśupataṃ prabhuḥ | uvāca ca mahādevo dattvā me'straṃ sanātanam

And, well pleased, the Lord gave me the Pashupata weapon. Having given me that everlasting weapon, Mahadeva said:

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 3.163.48cd, line 2 is CE 3.163.49ab.

Verse 52 (3.168.52)

न प्रयोज्यं भवेदेतन्मानुषेषु कथंचन । जगद्विनिर्दहेदेवमल्पतेजसि पातितम् ॥

na prayojyaṃ bhavedetanmānuṣeṣu kathaṃcana | jagadvinirdahedevamalpatejasi pātitam

"This must never be used against men in any way. Loosed upon one of little power, it would burn up the whole world.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki bracket ([) before the second line and corrected प्रयोज्यंभवेत् → प्रयोज्यं भवेत् (word-spacing slip). Line 1 is CE 3.163.49cd; line 2 is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.163.49d*0840). Speaker: Shiva's injunction fills this verse and the next; given to Mahadeva.

Verse 53 (3.168.53)

पीड्यमानेन बलवत्प्रयोज्यं स्याद्धनंजय । अस्त्राणां प्रतिघाते च सर्वथैव प्रयोजयेः ॥

pīḍyamānena balavatprayojyaṃ syāddhanaṃjaya | astrāṇāṃ pratighāte ca sarvathaiva prayojayeḥ

Only when you are hard pressed, Dhananjaya, should it be used; and to counter enemy weapons you may use it in every case."

Note on the text: Corrected पीड्यमानन → पीड्यमानेन (misprint in Wikisource; a lost vowel sign, the critical edition reads pīḍyamānena) and प्रयोज्यंस्यात् → प्रयोज्यं स्यात् (word-spacing slip).

Verse 54 (3.168.54)

ततोऽप्रतिहतं दिव्यं सर्वास्त्रप्रतिषेधनम् । मूर्तिमन्मे स्थितं पार्श्वे प्रसन्ने गोवृषध्वजे ॥

tato'pratihataṃ divyaṃ sarvāstrapratiṣedhanam | mūrtimanme sthitaṃ pārśve prasanne govṛṣadhvaje

Then that divine, irresistible weapon, which wards off all other weapons, stood beside me in bodily form, while the bull-bannered god looked on in favour:

Verse 55 (3.168.55)

उत्सादनममित्राणां परसेनानिकर्तनम् । दुरासदं दुष्प्रसहं सुरदानवराक्षसैः ॥

utsādanamamitrāṇāṃ parasenānikartanam | durāsadaṃ duṣprasahaṃ suradānavarākṣasaiḥ

the destroyer of enemies, the cutter-down of hostile armies, hard to approach and unbearable for gods, Danavas and Rakshasas.

Verse 56 (3.168.56)

अनुज्ञातस्त्वहं तेन तत्रैव समुपाविशम् । प्रेक्षतश्चैव मे देवस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥

anujñātastvahaṃ tena tatraiva samupāviśam | prekṣataścaiva me devastatraivāntaradhīyata

Given leave by him, I sat down right there; and as I watched, the god vanished on that very spot.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रेक्षतश्चैवमे → प्रेक्षतश्चैव मे (word-spacing slip in Wikisource).