Mahabharata · 7.57.62–63
॥
Devanāgarī
ततो ऽभिपूज्य मनसा शर्वं कृष्णं च पाण्डवः ॥
इच्छाम्य् अहं दिव्यम् अस्त्रम् इत्य् अभाषत शंकरम् ॥
ततः पार्थस्य विज्ञाय वरार्थे वचनं प्रभुः ॥
वासुदेवार्जुनौ देवः स्मयमानो ऽभ्यभाषत ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tato 'bhipūjya manasā śarvaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ ||
icchāmy ahaṃ divyam astram ity abhāṣata śaṃkaram ||
tataḥ pārthasya vijñāya varārthe vacanaṃ prabhuḥ ||
vāsudevārjunau devaḥ smayamāno 'bhyabhāṣata ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ततः अभिपूज्य मनसाtataḥ abhipūjya manasāthen, having honored in mind; then, having honored in mind
शर्वम् कृष्णम् च पाण्डवःśarvam kṛṣṇam ca pāṇḍavaḥSharva and Krishna -- the Pandava; Sharva and Krishna -- the Pandava
इच्छामि अहम् दिव्यम् अस्त्रम्icchāmi aham divyam astram"I desire a divine weapon"; "I desire a divine weapon"
इति अभाषत शंकरम्iti abhāṣata śaṃkaramthus he spoke to Shankara; thus he said to Shankara
ततः पार्थस्य विज्ञायtataḥ pārthasya vijñāyathen, having understood Partha's; then, having grasped Partha's
वरार्थे वचनम् प्रभुःvarārthe vacanam prabhuḥword about the boon -- the lord; word about the boon -- the lord
वासुदेवार्जुनौ देवःvāsudevārjunau devaḥto Vasudeva and Arjuna the god; to Vasudeva and Arjuna the god
स्मयमानः अभ्यभाषतsmayamānaḥ abhyabhāṣatasmiling, spoke; smiling, said
Translation
Then, having honored in mind Sharva and Krishna, the Pandava said to Shankara: "I desire a divine weapon." And, having understood Partha's word about the boon, the lord-god, smiling, spoke to Vasudeva and Arjuna.
Version
fe90987d47e2 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Arjuna's request is simple and direct: "icchāmi aham divyam astram", "I desire a divine weapon." It is telling that before his petition he "abhipūjya manasā śarvaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca", honored in mind both Shiva and Krishna: the request arises from reverence, not from demand. Shiva answers "smayamānaḥ", smiling -- with grace. The verse teaches that it is fitting to ask of God directly, yet from a reverent heart: a clear need, voiced in humility and honor, is met not with rebuke but with a smile of favor.