Lomesh Rishi sees Arjuna

Arjuna started learning how to use multiple weapons. Chitrasen taught Arjuna the art of music and dance. One day the sage Lomesh came there and went to meet Arjuna. The sage was amazed to see Arjuna there, next to Indra. He asked How could a human sit in a seat which was a rare treat for the greatest of the sages.
Indra said to the sage You must be aware of the two great sages Nara and Narayana. Narayana is in Dwaraka as Krishna and this is Nara. Arjuna is here to learn how to use weapons. He has many tasks to perform.  Great Sage, I need your help. Go to the forest of Kamyaka forest where you will find Arjuna's brothers. Tell them that they should not worry for him. Take to the many pilgrim spots.  

Urvashi curses Arjuna

Indra asked the gandharva Chitrasen to arrange for a place for Arjuna to stay. Once that was done, Indra asked him to send Urvashi to Arjuna's quarters.

Chitrasen took Arjuna to a lavish room and said this was where he would be staying.

Leaving Arjuna, Chitrasen went to Urvashi and asked her to go where Arjuna was.

Decking herself, Urvashi went where Arjuna was.

The guard at the door announced to Arjuna that Urvashi had come to meet him. Arjuna came and greeted her.

Urvashi said she had been asked to come to him and spend the night with him. This was Indra's orders. Arjuna put his hands on his ears and said this was unacceptable.
He said I will not be able to hear these words of yours. Why do you use such vile words, respected woman. You are like a mother to me. I have heard from the great sages that it was because of you the Puru dynasty prospered.  I looked at you with that respect.

Urvashi said I belong to no one and I go on my free will. Leave the bonds aside and stay with me. All the people who you call my descendants have also stayed with me. No one cares for sentiments.

Arjuna said I treat you like my mothers Kunti and Madri and like Sachi, wife of Indra.

Urvashi was angry. She said I came because your father, Indra, asked me to come and you refuse to accept. I curse you to loose your masculinity. You will live among women like a eunuch. You will dance and sing. This is my curse.

Saying so, Urvashi left. Arjuna did not sleep a wink, and kept thinking of what Urvashi had said.

In the morning, Arjuna approached Indra and told him what had happened.

Indra praised Arjuna and said such self control was worthy of praise. He said Such actions have purified the Kuru dynasty. The curse of Urvashi will help you. When you have to go in hiding, you will become an eunuch. You will stay like that for a year, after which you will regain your masculinity. 

Urvashi and other apsaras dance

Indra then called for the apsaras and asked to perform their dances. All the gandharvas came there. Among the intruments playing, Urvashi and the other apsaras started dancing.
Arjuna was lost, thinking of his brothers. Indra seeing this, nodded to Urvashi to take care of Arjuna.

Arjuna goes to heaven

All other Gods then appeared there. They showered flowers on Arjuna.
Shiva said Look the other Gods have to come to bless you and give you boons. Know that you will be victorious over all evil. Karna, the great archer will die in your hands. Take this weapon from me called Danda. This is a very powerful weapon. Use it wisely when needed.
With that Shiva gave Arjuna the mantra for using the weapon and also told him how to use it.

Varuna and Yama then gave powerful weapons to Arjuna. Kubera gave a weapon called Antardhan using which Shiva had destroyed the land of Tripur.

Indra said to Arjuna You are my son, born of Kunti. I will be sending a chariot to take you to heaven. You will achieve your mission when you are in heaven. Matali, my charioteer will be coming to take you.

Soon the chariot arrived for Arjuna. Arjuna climbed onto the chariot and the vehicle sped with the speed of wind. On the way, Arjuna saw many sages and he also many great kings riding on vehicles in the sky. Arjuna asked who they were. Matali said they were all great souls. Having performed great sacrifices, having roamed and covered the great pilgrim spots, these souls had attained heaven.

The kings also asked Matali who this that he was taking. Matali introduced Arjuna to all of them and sped on his way.

Indra greeted Arjuna when he arrived and hugged him. Pointing to a place, Indra asked him to sit there.

Arjuna and the hunter

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. 

Arjuna starts his journey

Arjuna traveled northwards. Crossing the Himalayas, he reached the mountain of Gandhamadana. He crossed that till he came to the mountain called Chandrakila. A voice said Do not venture further. Rest here. Humans are not allowed beyond this.
Arjuan spotted a sage there with long matted hair. The sage said to Arjuna - WHo are you, clad in armor, carrying bow, arrows and swords. Why have you come to this mountain? Discard the weapons. If you get the grace of Gods, why do you need the weapons?
When Arjuna was quiet, the sage said - Ask for a boon. I am Indra.

Arjuna asked for weapons. Indra said, First please Shiva and get his blessings. 

Arjuna asked to please Shiva

Yudhistira and the pandavas greeted Vyasa and gave him a place to sit. Vyasa said to Yudhistira - Deep in your heart you are fearing your enemies. That is why I have come here. Your bad times will soon be over and god times will come. Your brother, Arjuna, is Nara reborn. I will give him a mantra that will help him get to meet Shiva.
Leave this forest. Sitting here will not help. Go around pilgrim spots.

Saying this Vyasa taught the mantra to Yudhistira and left.

Yudhistira then left that forest along with his brothers and Draupadi. Following the course of the river Saraswati, they came across a forest called Kamakya.

One day Yudhistira called Arjuna and said - The Kuru elders are adept at yielding all kinds of weapons. I trust you my brother to be our savior. Go somewhere and meditate on Shiva. See Shiva and the other Gods and ask for the knowledge of the divine weapons.  Go to the Himalayas and live there.
Saying this, Yudhistira taught Arjuna the mantra given by Vyasa.

Arjuna picked up his weapons and left for his journey to please the Gods.