Arjuna started his meditation on the peaks of Himalaya. He lived on leaves falling off trees. He slowly sgave off food, eating leaves once in a month. Slowly he gave that up too, sitting lost in his meditation.
First he was sitting. Then started meditating, standing on one foot.
The inhabitants of the peak went to Shiva and requested him to appear in front of Arjuna.
Shiva and Durga then took the form of a hunter and huntress. Taking a bow called Jayanti, he went where Arjuna was meditating.
It so happened that a big wild boar suddenly came dashing towards Arjuna. Arjuna took aim and was about to shoot his arrow, when he was stopped. A hunter told him not to shoot, as the boar was his target and he had come chasing the animal form far.
Not listening, Arjuna released his arrow. The hunter also released his arrow.
Both hit the boar at the same time.
Arjuna asked the hunter - Who are you, who roam fearless in the forest with your woman. I shot my arrow first, seeing that, why did you release your arrow. I will kill you.
The hunter laughed and said - Who are you, O ascetic. Where have you come from. I am the lord of this place. The boar fell from my arrow, so why do you fret and fume? You do wrong and yet want to kill me. Show me your skill.
Arjuna asked the hunter to get ready. The hunter said he was ready.
Arjuna was surprised. He was showering arrows, but the hunter was unaffected. Who was this person? Arrows broke into two when they struck him. Frustrated Arjuna struck the hunter with his bow and the hunter snatched the bow away from his hand.
The two then began wrestling but even there Arjuna could not win. Arjuna was not sure what to do. He was on the ground. He quickly made a Shiva Linga from the sand, put a garland around that and uttered a silent prayer to Shiva.
He was surprised to see the garland he had offered, hang around the neck of the hunter.
Arjuna prostrated himself before the hunter and said he was begging for forgiveness as he was not aware of His true identity.
The hunter said What you did would not have been possible for any ordinary mortal. I will give the vision to see what is reality.
Arjuna, with Shiva's grace, then saw Shiva standing there with Uma.
Arjuna, with folded hands, started singing praises of Shiva. Shiva hugged him and said You do not know of your own true identity. You are the sage Nara, born on this earth. This Gandiva that you hold, none other than you can handle it. I return back to you, your weapons that you fired at me. I am pleased with you, ask what you want.
Arjuna said Please give to me the weapon, Pashupata.
Shiva gladly gave it to Arjuna along with the mantra for the weapon. He said You alone can handle this. Use this very carefully.
Arjuna said When the war between Kauravas happens, Please come there.
Shiva said Hari (Krishna) is there with you, why do you need Hara (Shiva)? Both Hari and Hara are the same. I will be around to help during the war.
Saying this, Shiva and Uma vanished.
First he was sitting. Then started meditating, standing on one foot.
The inhabitants of the peak went to Shiva and requested him to appear in front of Arjuna.
Shiva and Durga then took the form of a hunter and huntress. Taking a bow called Jayanti, he went where Arjuna was meditating.
It so happened that a big wild boar suddenly came dashing towards Arjuna. Arjuna took aim and was about to shoot his arrow, when he was stopped. A hunter told him not to shoot, as the boar was his target and he had come chasing the animal form far.
Not listening, Arjuna released his arrow. The hunter also released his arrow.
Both hit the boar at the same time.
Arjuna asked the hunter - Who are you, who roam fearless in the forest with your woman. I shot my arrow first, seeing that, why did you release your arrow. I will kill you.
The hunter laughed and said - Who are you, O ascetic. Where have you come from. I am the lord of this place. The boar fell from my arrow, so why do you fret and fume? You do wrong and yet want to kill me. Show me your skill.
Arjuna asked the hunter to get ready. The hunter said he was ready.
Arjuna was surprised. He was showering arrows, but the hunter was unaffected. Who was this person? Arrows broke into two when they struck him. Frustrated Arjuna struck the hunter with his bow and the hunter snatched the bow away from his hand.
The two then began wrestling but even there Arjuna could not win. Arjuna was not sure what to do. He was on the ground. He quickly made a Shiva Linga from the sand, put a garland around that and uttered a silent prayer to Shiva.
He was surprised to see the garland he had offered, hang around the neck of the hunter.
Arjuna prostrated himself before the hunter and said he was begging for forgiveness as he was not aware of His true identity.
The hunter said What you did would not have been possible for any ordinary mortal. I will give the vision to see what is reality.
Arjuna, with Shiva's grace, then saw Shiva standing there with Uma.
Arjuna, with folded hands, started singing praises of Shiva. Shiva hugged him and said You do not know of your own true identity. You are the sage Nara, born on this earth. This Gandiva that you hold, none other than you can handle it. I return back to you, your weapons that you fired at me. I am pleased with you, ask what you want.
Arjuna said Please give to me the weapon, Pashupata.
Shiva gladly gave it to Arjuna along with the mantra for the weapon. He said You alone can handle this. Use this very carefully.
Arjuna said When the war between Kauravas happens, Please come there.
Shiva said Hari (Krishna) is there with you, why do you need Hara (Shiva)? Both Hari and Hara are the same. I will be around to help during the war.
Saying this, Shiva and Uma vanished.
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