Arjuna Receives the Pashupata

Verse 1 (3.40.1)

नरस्त्वं पूर्वदेहे वै नारायणसहायवान् । बदर्यां तप्तवानुग्रं तपो वर्षायुतान्बहून् ॥

narastvaṃ pūrvadehe vai nārāyaṇasahāyavān | badaryāṃ taptavānugraṃ tapo varṣāyutānbahūn

"In a former body you were Nara, with Narayana as your companion, and at Badari you practised fierce austerities for many myriads of years.

Verse 2 (3.40.2)

त्वयि वा परमं तेजो विष्णौ वा पुरुषोत्तमे । युवाभ्यां पुरुषाग्र्याभ्यां तेजसा धार्यते जगत् ॥

tvayi vā paramaṃ tejo viṣṇau vā puruṣottame | yuvābhyāṃ puruṣāgryābhyāṃ tejasā dhāryate jagat

"Supreme energy dwells in you, and in Vishnu, the highest Person. By you two, foremost of men, the world is upheld through your energy.

Verse 3 (3.40.3)

शक्राभिषेके सुमहद्धनुर्जलदनिःस्वनम् । प्रगृह्य दानवाः शस्तास्त्वया कृष्णेन च प्रभो ॥

śakrābhiṣeke sumahaddhanurjaladaniḥsvanam | pragṛhya dānavāḥ śastāstvayā kṛṣṇena ca prabho

"At the consecration of Shakra, lord, you and Krishna took up a mighty bow that thundered like a cloud, and struck down the Danavas.

Verse 4 (3.40.4)

तदेतदेव गाण्डीवं तव पार्थ करोचितम् । मायामास्थाय तद्ग्रस्तं मया पुरुषसत्तम ॥

tadetadeva gāṇḍīvaṃ tava pārtha karocitam | māyāmāsthāya tadgrastaṃ mayā puruṣasattama

"This is that very Gandiva, Partha, fit for your hand, which I swallowed by my power of illusion, best of men.

Note on the text: Corrected भायामास्थाय → मायामास्थाय (misprint in Wikisource; "using illusion", as the critical edition's māyām āsthāya).

Verse 5 (3.40.5)

तूणौ चाप्यक्षयौ भूयस्तव पार्थ करोचितौ । भविष्यति शरीरं च नीरुजं कुरुनन्दन ॥

tūṇau cāpyakṣayau bhūyastava pārtha karocitau | bhaviṣyati śarīraṃ ca nīrujaṃ kurunandana

"Your two quivers too will again be inexhaustible, Partha, fit for your hand, and your body will be free of pain, joy of the Kurus.

Note on the text: The first line is CE 3.41.4e; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus has it as 3.41.4f*0177).

Verse 6 (3.40.6)

प्रीतिमानस्मि वै पार्थ भवान्सत्यपराक्रमः । गृहाण वरमस्मत्तः काङ्क्षितं यन्नरर्षभ ॥

prītimānasmi vai pārtha bhavānsatyaparākramaḥ | gṛhāṇa varamasmattaḥ kāṅkṣitaṃ yannararṣabha

"I am pleased, Partha; you are truly valiant. Take from me whatever boon you desire, bull among men.

Verse 7 (3.40.7)

न त्वया सदृशः कश्चित्पुमान्मर्त्येषु भारत । दिवि वा वर्तते क्षत्रं त्वत्प्रधानमरिंदम ॥

na tvayā sadṛśaḥ kaścitpumānmartyeṣu bhārata | divi vā vartate kṣatraṃ tvatpradhānamariṃdama

"There is no man among mortals equal to you, Bharata, and even in heaven there is no warrior order in which you would not stand foremost, tamer of foes."

Note on the text: Corrected त्रं → क्षत्रं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, which also leaves the line a syllable short; the critical edition has kṣatraṃ, and the Wikisource commentary glosses क्षत्रे).

Verse 8 (3.40.8)

वरं ददासि चेन्मह्यं कामं प्रीत्या वृषध्वज । कामये दिव्यमस्त्रं तद्घोरं पाशुपतं प्रभो ॥

varaṃ dadāsi cenmahyaṃ kāmaṃ prītyā vṛṣadhvaja | kāmaye divyamastraṃ tadghoraṃ pāśupataṃ prabho

"If you grant me a boon out of love, as I wish, bull-bannered one, then I desire that terrible divine weapon, the Pashupata, lord,

Note on the text: Corrected दिव्यामस्त्रं → दिव्यमस्त्रं and तद्धोरं → तद्घोरं (misprints in Wikisource; अस्त्र is neuter, and घोर "terrible"; the critical edition has divyam astraṃ tad ghoraṃ).

Verse 9 (3.40.9)

यत्तद्ब्रह्मशिरो नाम रौद्रं भीमपराक्रमम् । युगान्ते दारुणे प्राप्ते कृत्स्नं संहरते जगत् ॥

yattadbrahmaśiro nāma raudraṃ bhīmaparākramam | yugānte dāruṇe prāpte kṛtsnaṃ saṃharate jagat

"the fierce weapon of dreadful power named Brahmashiras, which destroys the whole world when the terrible end of the age has come.

Verse 10 (3.40.10)

कर्णभीष्मकृपद्रोणैर्भविता तु महाहवः । त्वत्प्रसादान्महादेव जयेयं तान्यथा युधि ॥

karṇabhīṣmakṛpadroṇairbhavitā tu mahāhavaḥ | tvatprasādānmahādeva jayeyaṃ tānyathā yudhi

"There will be a great battle with Karna, Bhishma, Kripa and Drona; by your grace, Mahadeva, may I conquer them in that fight.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets and the inner double danda around this verse (editorial marks in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.41.8d*0178.

Verse 11 (3.40.11)

जयेयं येन संग्रामे दानवान्राक्षसांस्तथा । राज्ञश्चैव पिशाचांश्च गन्धर्वानथपन्नगान् ॥

jayeyaṃ yena saṃgrāme dānavānrākṣasāṃstathā | rājñaścaiva piśācāṃśca gandharvānathapannagān

"The weapon with which I may conquer in battle Danavas and Rakshasas, kings, Pishachas, Gandharvas and serpents;

Verse 12 (3.40.12)

यस्मिञ्शूलसहस्राणि गदाश्चोग्रप्रदर्शनाः । शराश्चाशीविषाकाराः संभवन्त्यनुमन्त्रिताः ॥

yasmiñśūlasahasrāṇi gadāścograpradarśanāḥ | śarāścāśīviṣākārāḥ saṃbhavantyanumantritāḥ

"the weapon in which thousands of spears, maces of fearsome look and arrows like venomous snakes come into being when it is charged with mantras;

Verse 13 (3.40.13)

युध्येयं येन भीष्मेण द्रोणेन च कृपेण च । सूतपुत्रेण च रणे नित्यं कटुकभाषिणा ॥

yudhyeyaṃ yena bhīṣmeṇa droṇena ca kṛpeṇa ca | sūtaputreṇa ca raṇe nityaṃ kaṭukabhāṣiṇā

"with which I may fight in battle against Bhishma, Drona and Kripa, and the charioteer's son, ever harsh of speech.

Verse 14 (3.40.14)

एष मे प्रथमः कामो भगवन्भगनेत्रहन् । त्वत्प्रसादाद्विनिर्वृत्तः समर्थः स्यामहं यथा ॥

eṣa me prathamaḥ kāmo bhagavanbhaganetrahan | tvatprasādādvinirvṛttaḥ samarthaḥ syāmahaṃ yathā

"This is my first wish, blessed one, destroyer of Bhaga's eyes: that by your grace I may have my purpose fulfilled and become equal to the task."

Note on the text: Removed the speaker line "भव उवाच" (with a stray x), which Wikisource prints as a third line of this verse; it now heads the next verse. Corrected विनिर्बृत्तः → विनिर्वृत्तः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition has vinirvṛttaḥ, and the Wikisource commentary glosses विनिर्वृत्तः).

Verse 15 (3.40.15)

ददामि तेऽस्त्रं दयितमहं पाशुपतं विभो । समर्थो धारणे मोक्षे संहारेऽपि च पाण्डव ॥

dadāmi te'straṃ dayitamahaṃ pāśupataṃ vibho | samartho dhāraṇe mokṣe saṃhāre'pi ca pāṇḍava

"I give you my beloved weapon, the Pashupata, mighty one. You are able to hold it, to release it and to withdraw it, Pandava.

Verse 16 (3.40.16)

न तद्वेद महेन्द्रोपि न यमो न च यक्षराट् । वरुणोप्यथवा वायुः कुतो वेत्स्यन्ति मानवाः ॥

na tadveda mahendropi na yamo na ca yakṣarāṭ | varuṇopyathavā vāyuḥ kuto vetsyanti mānavāḥ

"Not even great Indra knows it, nor Yama, nor the king of the Yakshas, nor Varuna nor Vayu; how then should men know it?

Verse 17 (3.40.17)

न त्वया सहसा पार्थ मोक्तव्यं पुरुषे क्वचित् । जगद्विनिर्दहेत्सर्वमल्पतेजसि पातितम् ॥

na tvayā sahasā pārtha moktavyaṃ puruṣe kvacit | jagadvinirdahetsarvamalpatejasi pātitam

"But you must never loose it rashly on any man, Partha. If it is cast at one of little strength, it would burn up the whole world.

Verse 18 (3.40.18)

अबध्यो नाम नास्त्यस्य त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे । मनसा चक्षुषा वाचा धनुषा च निपात्यते ॥

abadhyo nāma nāstyasya trailokye sacarācare | manasā cakṣuṣā vācā dhanuṣā ca nipātyate

"There is no one in the three worlds, with all that moves and does not move, whom it cannot slay. It can be discharged by the mind, by the eye, by speech, and by the bow."

Verse 19 (3.40.19)

तच्छ्रुत्वा त्वरितः पार्थः शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहितः । उपसंगृह्य विश्वेशमधीष्वेत्यथ सोऽब्रवीत् ॥

tacchrutvā tvaritaḥ pārthaḥ śucirbhūtvā samāhitaḥ | upasaṃgṛhya viśveśamadhīṣvetyatha so'bravīt

Hearing that, Partha at once purified himself and, with a collected mind, clasped the feet of the lord of the universe and said, "Teach me."

Verse 20 (3.40.20)

ततस्त्वध्यापयामास सरहस्यनिवर्तनम् । तदस्त्रं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठं मूर्तिमन्तमिवान्तकम् ॥

tatastvadhyāpayāmāsa sarahasyanivartanam | tadastraṃ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaṃ mūrtimantamivāntakam

Then he taught the best of the Pandavas that weapon, which was like Death in bodily form, together with its secret and the way to withdraw it.

Verse 21 (3.40.21)

उपतस्थे महात्मानं यथा त्र्यक्षमुमापतिम् । प्रतिजग्राह तच्चापि प्रीतिमानर्जुनस्तदा ॥

upatasthe mahātmānaṃ yathā tryakṣamumāpatim | pratijagrāha taccāpi prītimānarjunastadā

It waited upon the great-souled hero as it waits upon the three-eyed lord of Uma, and Arjuna received it with joy.

Verse 22 (3.40.22)

ततश्चचाल पृथिवी सपर्वतवनद्रुमा । ससागरवनोद्देशा सग्रामनगराकरा ॥

tataścacāla pṛthivī saparvatavanadrumā | sasāgaravanoddeśā sagrāmanagarākarā

Then the earth shook, with its mountains, forests and trees, with its seas and woodlands, its villages, towns and mines.

Verse 23 (3.40.23)

शङ्खदुन्दुभिघोषाश्च भेरीणां च सहस्रशः । तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते संप्राप्ते निर्घातश्च महानभूत् ॥

śaṅkhadundubhighoṣāśca bherīṇāṃ ca sahasraśaḥ | tasminmuhūrte saṃprāpte nirghātaśca mahānabhūt

The sound of conches and drums rose up, and of kettledrums by the thousand, and at that moment there came a great thunderous crash.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्मिनमुहूर्ते → तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते (misprint in Wikisource; a missing virama; the critical edition has tasmin muhūrte).

Verse 24 (3.40.24)

अथास्त्रं जाज्वलद्घोरं पाण्डवस्यामितौजसः । मूर्तिमद्विष्ठितं पार्श्वे ददृशुर्देवदानवाः ॥

athāstraṃ jājvaladghoraṃ pāṇḍavasyāmitaujasaḥ | mūrtimadviṣṭhitaṃ pārśve dadṛśurdevadānavāḥ

Then gods and Danavas saw that terrible blazing weapon standing in bodily form beside the Pandava of boundless might.

Note on the text: Corrected जाज्वलद्धोरं → जाज्वलद्घोरं (misprint in Wikisource; घोर "terrible", as the critical edition's jājvalad ghoraṃ).

Verse 25 (3.40.25)

स्पृष्टस्य त्र्यम्बकेणाथ फल्गुनस्यामितौजसः । यत्किंचिदशुभं देहे तत्सर्वं नाशमेयिवत् ॥

spṛṣṭasya tryambakeṇātha phalgunasyāmitaujasaḥ | yatkiṃcidaśubhaṃ dehe tatsarvaṃ nāśameyivat

And whatever was inauspicious in the body of Phalguna of boundless might, once he was touched by the three-eyed god, all of it was destroyed.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (3.41.23c): Wikisource has lost the second line through an eye-skip, printing यत्किं गच्छेत्यनुज्ञातस्त्र्यम्बकेण तदाऽर्जुनः, which runs the opening of this line into the first line of the next verse; the critical edition's yat kiṃ cid aśubhaṃ dehe tat sarvaṃ nāśam eyivat is written here in place of it. The first line keeps Wikisource's reading (त्र्यम्बकेणाथ, where the critical edition has ca tryambakena).

Verse 26 (3.40.26)

स्वर्गं गच्छेत्यनुज्ञातस्त्र्यम्बकेण तदाऽर्जुनः । प्रणम्य शिरसा राजन्प्राञ्जलिर्भवमैक्षत ॥

svargaṃ gacchetyanujñātastryambakeṇa tadā'rjunaḥ | praṇamya śirasā rājanprāñjalirbhavamaikṣata

"Go to heaven," said Tryambaka, giving Arjuna leave, and Arjuna bowed his head, O king, and gazed at Bhava with joined palms.

Verse 27 (3.40.27)

ततः प्रभुस्त्रिदिवनिवासिनां वशी । महामतिर्गिरिश उमापतिः शिवः । धनुर्महद्दितिजपिशाचसूदनं । ददौ भवः पुरुषवराय गाण्डिवम् ॥

tataḥ prabhustridivanivāsināṃ vaśī | mahāmatirgiriśa umāpatiḥ śivaḥ | dhanurmahadditijapiśācasūdanaṃ | dadau bhavaḥ puruṣavarāya gāṇḍivam

Then the lord, master of the dwellers of heaven, the great-minded Girisha, Uma's consort, Shiva, Bhava, gave to the best of men the Gandiva, the great bow that destroys the sons of Diti and the Pishachas.

Note on the text: Corrected वसी → वशी (misprint in Wikisource; "the master", as the critical edition's vaśī and the Wikisource commentary's वशी).

Verse 28 (3.40.28)

ततः शुभं गिरिवरमीश्वरस्तदा । सहोमयाऽसिततटसानुकन्दरम् । विहाय तं पतगमहर्षिसेवितं । जगाम स्वं पुरुषवरस्य पश्यतः ॥

tataḥ śubhaṃ girivaramīśvarastadā | sahomayā'sitataṭasānukandaram | vihāya taṃ patagamaharṣisevitaṃ | jagāma svaṃ puruṣavarasya paśyataḥ

Then the Lord, with Uma, left that fine and lofty mountain, with its dark slopes, ridges and caves, frequented by birds and great sages, and went to his own abode as the best of men looked on.