When Arjuna Met Bhagawan Shiva

(From Kairata Parva of Mahabharata)

There is a particularly beautiful bit in the story from Mahabharata, of Arjuna having darshan of Bhagawan Shiva that I want to share.

For context, this is the story in brief:

The Pandavas, after being unjustly defeated at the game of dice, have been exiled to living in the forest for 12 years. They know that once the exile is over, a war with their cousins is inevitable to claim what is rightfully theirs. To ensure victory, Arjuna heads to the Himalayas and performs hard penance for four months in order to please Bhagawan Shiva and obtain divine weapons from Him.

Pleased with his devotion, Bhagwan Shiva along with Maa Parvati appear before Arjuna, but the Lord has disguised himself as a hunter.

At the same time when Bhagawan Shiva appears, a demon, who has taken the form of a boar, is about to attack Arjuna. Arjuna and Bhagawan Shiva both shoot arrows at the boar, both claiming ownership of the kill.

Lord Shiva is of course only testing Arjuna.

A great battle ensues. When Arjuna's inexhaustible quivers of arrows are exhausted, when Arjuna is devoid of all his weapons, Lord Shiva, along with Maa Parvati appear before him in their true forms.

Arujna prostrates himself before Them, begging Lord Shiva's forgiveness for not recognizing Him and fighting with Him.

Lord Shiva forgives his devotee, and pleased by his devotion and valour, grants him the knowledge of the divine weapons.

What struck me as the most beautiful part of the whole story was Arjuna's reaction once Lord Shiva departs.

(This is a direct quote from Bibek Debroy's translation of the Critical Edition of Mahabharata.)

‘Arjuna, the slayer of enemy warriors, was extremely astounded. He said, “I have seen the great Mahadeva in person. I am blessed and greatly favoured. For I have seen Tryambaka Hara Pinaki, the granter of boons, in person and have touched him with my hands. I know that I have accomplished my objective. I have already defeated my enemies in battle. All my objectives have been attained.”’

I'm sure many of us have felt this same sense of stunned awe and devotion, and continue feeling it whenever we meet Gurus, who are the embodiment of the Divine in human form.

How fortunate are we that we are being guided by our Gurus and accompanying Them to the abode of the Adi Nath, the Adi Yogi, the Adi Nath, the Adi Baul!

Har har Mahadev!
Guru kripa hi kevalam.