Shiva, pleased with Arjuna's valor in the Kirata battle, reveals Arjuna's identity and grants him the Pashupata weapon as a boon.
Aranyaka Parva
Can Arjuna obtain divine weapons and training to ensure the Pandavas' victory?
Arjuna undertakes severe penance to please Shiva, who grants him the Pashupatastra. The Lokapalas then bestow their divine weapons upon him, and Indra sends his chariot to bring Arjuna to heaven, where he is trained by Indra and Chitrasena in celestial warfare.
8 stories · 1 pivotal · Chapters 338–342
Begin readingCausal position
How this arc sits in the story chain
Born from
Hara (Shiva), having revealed himself and being pleased, directly grants Arjuna the Pashupata weapon as a boon in the subsequent episode.
Yudhishthira sends Arjuna to obtain divine weapons, which ultimately leads Arjuna through his trials to receive the Pashupata weapon from Shiva as a boon.
This Arc
Arjuna's Quest for Divine Weapons
Leads into
Arjuna's five-year training with Indra and Chitrasena directly causes the five-year period of the Pandavas' exile in Kamyaka forest without Arjuna, as the narrative states that five years pass while Arjuna is away training.
Indra instructs Lomasha to return to earth, convey a message of reassurance to Yudhishthira, and protect him during his pilgrimage; Lomasha agrees and this directly causes him to later report Arjuna's progress to Yudhishthira.
Stories
Showing 1 spine stories · 8 total
Spine stories carry the arc's main thread. Essential adds key turning points. Supporting covers depth and backstory.