Many know that Arjuna was helped by Lord Krishna in the great battle that is recounted in the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna did not wish to fight in the battle, but he agreed to serve as Arjuna’s charioteer, and he also overcame Arjuna’s doubts, inspiring him to fight with valor.

What is perhaps less known is that before the battle Arjuna received the gift of a mighty weapon from Lord Shiva. This is how it happened.

Arjuna had been told by his father Indra, the king of heaven, to undergo spiritual austerities in the forest in order to win the favour of Lord Shiva. Therefore Arjuna went to the jungle, and his severe penance pleased Shiva, who wished to grant him a gift.

In the forest Arjuna, who was a highly skilled archer, spied a wild boar. As he took aim at the creature, a kirata, a wild mountain man, emerged from the jungle, also aiming at the boar. The two hunters loosed their arrows at the same time, and the boar was killed. But now Arjuna and the kirata began to argue as to whose arrow had killed the animal.

Their argument became more and more heated, until they finally began to fight. Arjuna raised his bow and took aim at the kirata, but the kirata shot an arrow first that severed Arjuna’s bow-string. Then they began to wrestle, and Arjuna was astonished at the strength and agility of the mountain man. For a long time they struggled together until Arjuna was thrown to the ground – and there for a moment he lost consciousness.

As he regained his senses, Arjuina began to worship Shiva in his mind, offering flowers to the god. Then, to his astonishment, he saw the garland of flowers appear on the head of the kirata!

Now Arjuna understood why he had been unable to defeat his opponent, for the mountain man was none other that Lord Shiva himself. Arjuna touched the feet of the kirata in sincere worship and Lord Shiva, pleased with Arjuna, bestowed upon him the Pashupatastra, a mighty throwing weapon that none could withstand.