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{{Short description|Weapon of Mass destruction in Indian Mythology}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}


[[File:Shiva gives Pashupatastra to Arjuna.jpg|thumb|[[Lord Shiva]] gives Pashupatastra to [[Arjuna]]]]
[[File:Shiva gives Pashupatastra to Arjuna.jpg|thumb| [[Lord Shiva|Shiva]] gives Pashupatastra to [[Arjuna]]]]


The '''''Pashupatastra''''' ([[IAST]]: Pāśupatāstra, [[sanskrit]]:  पाशुपतास्त्र; the weapon of [[Pashupati|Pasupati]], an epithet of [[Lord Shiva|Shiva]]) is an irresistible and most destructive personal weapon of Shiva, [[Kali]] and [[Tripura Sundari|Adi Para Shakti]], which can be discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow. Never to be used against lesser enemies or by lesser warriors, the Pashupatastra is capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings. Pashupatastra is the most destructive, powerful, irresistible weapon mentioned in the Hindu mythology. In Mahabharata, only [[Arjuna]]; and in Ramayana, sage [[Vishvamitra]] and [[Rama]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga27/bala_27_frame.htm|title = Valmiki Ramayana - Baala Kanda - Sarga 27 }}</ref> possessed Pashupatastra.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2A0lg1xRehIC&q=Pashupati+Arjuna&pg=PA116|title=Asian Perspectives on the World's Religions after September 11|last1=Sharma|first1=Arvind|last2=Khanna|first2=Madhu|date=2013-02-15|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313378973|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uLFmds7elBAC&q=Pashupati+Arjuna&pg=PA115|title=Tales From the Mahabharat|last1=Sharma|first1=Mahesh|last2=Chaturvedi|first2=B. K.|date=2006|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.|isbn=9788128812286|language=en}}</ref> It is one of the six ''Mantramukta'' weapons that cannot be resisted.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/onweaponsarmyor00oppegoog | page=[https://archive.org/details/onweaponsarmyor00oppegoog/page/n41 30] | quote=Narayanastra most powerful. | title=On the Weapons, Army Organisation, and Political Maxims of the Ancient Hindus: With Special Reference to Gunpowder and Firearms| publisher=Higginbotham | last1=Oppert| first1=Gustav Salomon| year=1880}}</ref>
The '''''Pashupatastra''''' ([[IAST]]: Pāśupatāstra, [[sanskrit]]:  पाशुपतास्त्र; the weapon of [[Pashupati|Pasupati]], an epithet of [[Lord Shiva|Shiva]]) is an irresistible and most destructive personal weapon of Shiva, [[Kali]] and [[Tripura Sundari|Adi Para Shakti]], which can be discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow. Never to be used against lesser enemies or by lesser warriors, the Pashupatastra is capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings. Pashupatastra is the most destructive, powerful, irresistible weapon mentioned in the Hindu mythology. In Mahabharata, only [[Arjuna]]; and in Ramayana, sage [[Vishvamitra]] and [[Rama]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga27/bala_27_frame.htm|title = Valmiki Ramayana - Baala Kanda - Sarga 27 }}</ref> possessed Pashupatastra.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2A0lg1xRehIC&q=Pashupati+Arjuna&pg=PA116|title=Asian Perspectives on the World's Religions after September 11|last1=Sharma|first1=Arvind|last2=Khanna|first2=Madhu|date=2013-02-15|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313378973|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uLFmds7elBAC&q=Pashupati+Arjuna&pg=PA115|title=Tales From the Mahabharat|last1=Sharma|first1=Mahesh|last2=Chaturvedi|first2=B. K.|date=2006|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.|isbn=9788128812286|language=en}}</ref> It is one of the six ''Mantramukta'' weapons that cannot be resisted.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/onweaponsarmyor00oppegoog | page=[https://archive.org/details/onweaponsarmyor00oppegoog/page/n41 30] | quote=Narayanastra most powerful. | title=On the Weapons, Army Organisation, and Political Maxims of the Ancient Hindus: With Special Reference to Gunpowder and Firearms| publisher=Higginbotham | last1=Oppert| first1=Gustav Salomon| year=1880}}</ref>
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A narrative from Kisari Mohan Ganguli's translation of ''Mahabharat'' regarding the power of Pashupatastra:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13a014.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Kairata Parva: Section XL|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref>
A narrative from Kisari Mohan Ganguli's translation of ''Mahabharat'' regarding the power of Pashupatastra:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13a014.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Kairata Parva: Section XL|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref>


<blockquote>O thou of mighty arms, that weapon is superior to the Brahma, the Narayana, the Aindra, the Agneya, and the Varuna weapons. Verily, it is capable of neutralising every other weapon in the universe. It was with that weapon that the illustrious Mahadeva had in days of yore, burnt and consumed in a moment the triple city of the Asuras. With the greatest ease, O Govinda, Mahadeva, using that single arrow, achieved that feat. That weapon, shot by Mahadeva's arms, can, without doubt consume in half the time taken up by a twinkling of the eyes the entire universe with all its mobile and immobile creatures. In the universe there is no being including Brahma, Vishnu and the Goddess Lakshmi, Parvati, Sarasvati that are incapable of being slain by that weapon.</blockquote>
<blockquote>O thou of mighty arms, that weapon is superior to the Brahma, the Narayana, the Aindra, the Agneya, and the Varuna weapons. Verily, it is capable of neutralising every other weapon in the universe. It was with that weapon that the illustrious Mahadeva had in days of yore, burnt and consumed in a moment the triple city of the Asuras. With the greatest ease, O Govinda, Mahadev, using that single arrow, achieved that feat. That weapon, shot by Mahadeva's arms, can, without doubt consume in half the time taken up by a twinkling of the eyes the entire universe with all its mobile and immobile creatures. In the universe there is no being including Brahma, Vishnu and the Goddess Lakshmi, Parvati, Sarasvati that are incapable of being slain by that weapon.</blockquote>


==Arjuna's penance for Pashupatastra==
==Arjuna's penance for Pashupatastra==
{{main|Mahabharatham}}
{{main|Mahabharatham}}
After the [[Khandava Forest|battle at Khandava]], [[Indra]] had promised Arjuna to give him all his weapons as a boon for matching him in battle with the requirement that [[Shiva]] is pleased with him. Following the advice of Lord [[Krishna]] to go on meditation or ''[[tapasya]]'' to attain this [[Astra (weapon)|divine weapon]], Arjuna left his brothers for a penance on Indrakeeladri Hill in [[Vijayawada|Vijayavatika]], known in the present day as [[Vijayawada]].
After the [[Khandava Forest|battle at Khandava]], [[Indra]] had promised Arjuna to give him all his weapons as a boon for matching him in battle with the requirement that [[Shiva]] is pleased with him. Following the advice of [[Krishna]] to go on meditation or ''[[tapasya]]'' to attain this [[Astra (weapon)|divine weapon]], Arjuna left his brothers for a penance on Indrakeeladri Hill in [[Vijayawada|Vijayavatika]], known in the present day as [[Vijayawada]] in [[Andhra Pradesh|Andhra]].


On learning about Arjuna's penance, [[Duryodhana]] sent a demon Mookasura to kill Arjuna. Demon Mookasura took the form of a wild boar to interrupt Arjuna's worship. On knowing this, Lord Shiva appeared there in the form of a hunter. It is also believed that the four [[Vedas]] followed the lord in the form of dogs to protect Arjuna. Arjuna shot an arrow on the boar and killed it. At the same time, Lord Shiva had also released an arrow from his bow. There after a scuffle arose between the two as to whose arrow had killed the boar. The scuffle leads to a fight and Arjuna broke [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]'s bow since Arjuna fought with his Gandiva and Shiva came with normal bow instead of Pinaka.
On learning about Arjuna's penance, [[Duryodhana]] sent a demon [[Mukasura]] to kill Arjuna. Mukasura took the form of a wild boar to interrupt Arjuna's worship. Upon knowing this, Shiva appeared there in the form of a hunter. It is also believed that the four [[Vedas]] accompanied Shiva in the form of dogs to protect Arjuna. Arjuna shot an arrow at the boar and killed it. At the same time, Shiva had also released an arrow from his bow. There after a scuffle arose between the two as to whose arrow had killed the boar. The scuffle led to a fight and Arjuna broke [[Shiva]]'s bow since Arjuna fought with his [[Gandiva]] and Shiva came with normal bow instead of [[Pinaka (Hinduism)|Pinaka]]. Then both of them were involved in sword fighting and wrestling. Shiva sliced and stabbed Arjuna many times and blood started flowing out like a stream. Shiva disarmed Arjuna's sword after which they began wrestling. Shiva lifted and threw down Arjuna many times. Still Arjuna rose up and was ready to attack. At last, Arjuna realised that the hunter was none other than Shiva himself and begged his pardon. Shiva and Goddess [[Parvati]] gave [[Darshan (Indian religions)|darshan]] to Arjuna and blessed him with the Pashupatastra.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R. K. K.|title=From Purāṇic to Folk: the &#39;Kirātārjunīyam Ballade&#39; and Visuals|url=https://www.academia.edu/49196507/From_Pur%C4%81%E1%B9%87ic_to_Folk_the_Kir%C4%81t%C4%81rjun%C4%AByam_Ballade_and_Visuals|journal=Eikón Imago}}</ref>
Then both of them were involved in sword fighting and wrestling. Lord Shiva sliced and stabbed Arjuna many times and blood started flowing out like a stream. Lord Shiva disarmed Arjuna's sword after which they began wrestling. Lord Shiva lifted and threw down Arjuna many times. Still Arjuna raised and was ready to attack. At last Arjuna realised that the hunter was none other than Lord Shiva himself and begged his pardon. Lord Shiva and Goddess [[Parvati]] gave darshan to Arjuna and blessed him with the Pashupatastra.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R. K. K.|title=From Purāṇic to Folk: the &#39;Kirātārjunīyam Ballade&#39; and Visuals|url=https://www.academia.edu/49196507/From_Pur%C4%81%E1%B9%87ic_to_Folk_the_Kir%C4%81t%C4%81rjun%C4%AByam_Ballade_and_Visuals|journal=Eikón Imago}}</ref> Lord Shiva also told Arjuna that he was tired of fighting with Arjuna and impressed with him more than his student [[Parashurama]]. Lord Shiva also coined Arjuna- the name "Vijaya" (invincible). From this Arjuna was also popularly known as Vijaya.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2OqhDwAAQBAJ&q=arjuna+gains+pashupatastra&pg=PA39|title=Om Namaha Shivaya: Short Stories of Shiva: Stories from Hindu Puranas|date=2019-07-12|publisher=SA Krishnan|language=en}}</ref>
 
After Shiva left, the [[Lokapalas]] appeared before Arjuna and then [[Kubera]], [[Yama]], and [[Varuna]] also blessed each of their potent weapons to Arjuna. Indra then invited his son to his palace in [[Svarga|heaven]].
 
Arjuna was amazed at the splendor of his father's palace at [[Amaravati (mythology)|Amaravati]]. Dancers like [[Urvashi]], [[Tilottama]], [[Rambha (apsara)|Rambha]] and [[Menaka]] entertained him. There was a huge banquet serving different varieties of heavenly dishes. Arjuna learnt song and [[bharatnatyam|dance]] from the Gandharva, [[Chitrasena (Mahabharata)|Chitrasena]] and Indra himself taught him all the [[Astra (weapon)|divine weapons]] and also gave him his [[Vajra]]. Many other gods also blessed Arjuna with their respective divine weapons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03044.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Indralokagamana Parva: Section XLIV|access-date=3 August 2016}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[Pashupata Shaivism]]
* [[Pashupata Shaivism]]
* [[Astra (weapon)]]
* [[Astra (weapon)]]
*[[Kirātārjunīya]] 6th-century epic poem describing the contest with Arjuna
*[[Kirātārjunīya]], a 6th-century epic poem describing Arjuna’s penance


==References==
==References==
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