Kiratarjunya

Kiratarjunya is a Sanskrit poem that describes the fight between Arjun and Lord Shiva. The Mahabharata mentions tells how Draupadi urges the Pandavas to break their pledge when the Pandavas with Draupadi have retired under their vow of twelve years` banishment to the Dvaita forest. A meeting is held where Yudhisthir pleads for the bond. Bhima challenges his argument. Vyasa advices Pandavas to retire from the Dvaita forest and go to the Kamyaka wood. Yudhisthir takes the wise course of bidding Arjuna in order to secure from Shiva divine weapons.

Arjuna obeys his elder brother and practises in the Himalaya harsh atonements. There he meets and struggles with a Kirata, who proves to be Shiva himself. Lord Shiva grants him the desired boon. Bharavi expands this story in his epic poem. The poet begins with the return of a spy whom Yudhisthir has sent to report on the deeds of Duryodhana. Draupadi becomes anxious, taunts Yudhisthir and urges swift battle. Bhima adds his support. Yudhisthir seeks advice from Vyasa and the sage confesses that war is inevitable. He urges Arjuna to do penance in the Himalaya. He vanishes and instead a Yaksha appears to lead Arjuna on his way. In Canto IV the Yaksha leads Arjuna and there is a brilliant picture drawn of the autumnal scene. Thereafter the Himalayas have been described and Yaksha emphasizes on the mystery behind it and on its close relationship with Shiva and Parvati. He also vanishes after bidding Arjuna to do penance on Indrakila. Arjuna`s penance terrifies the Guhyakas, the spirits who haunt Indrakila. They visit Lord Indra in order to seek his help and he sends Gandharvas and Apsaras to disturb him. The heavenly bodies make Indrakila their camp. They wander in the woods and enjoy. They try their level best to disturb Arjuna but of no avail. Now Indra himself appears as a sage and convinces that to bear arms and practise asceticism is contradictory. Arjuna affirms that he will do everything possible to save his family`s honour.

Indra is impressed and bids him to win the favour of Shiva. At this juncture ends the poet`s creation and the reader find the epic as his source. A demon named Muka in boar form plans to kill him. Shiva send host to guard the prince. The boar reaches there to kill Arjuna but it falls pierced by his own and Shiva`s dart. Arjuna advance to recover his arrow; however he is challenged by a Kirata who claims the arrow to be his master`s. Arjuna rejects the claim and the Kirata returns. Thereafter a deadly battle follows with Arjuna. After a fierce combat Shiva reveals his true form and Arjuna praises the greatness of the god and begs for strength and victory. Certain things like Shiva`s host, struggles under Skanda`s leadership with Arjuna and the whole incident of the contest with magic weapons are part of the poet`s imagination.