When all those high-souled ascetics went away, the wielder of trident, the exalted lord Hara, the destroyer of all sins. Assuming the form of a Kirata (hunter), blazing like a golden tree, appearing like a second huge Meru mountain.

And taking a handsome bow and many virulently poisonous snake-like arrows, came down with great speeds an embodiment of fire.

The auspicious deity was accompanied by Uma who was in the same custom and with the same purpose (as those of her husband Shiva) and also by many merry goblins of various forms and attires. And also by thousands of female (goblins). O king, O descendant of Bharata, the place blazed forth with beauty (as Shiva appeared).

And in a moment all the forest was pervaded with silence. The sounds of springs, water-falls and birds ceased.

Coming near Partha of spotless deeds, he (Shiva) saw that a son of a Danava, named Muka of wonderful appearance. Assuming the form of a boar, intended to kill Arjuna. Seeing him in the attempt to kill him. (At once) taking up his Gandiva bow and virulently poisonous snake-like arrows and also stringing them to the bow and having filled all sides with its twang, Falguni said to him.

Arjuna said : I have come here, but, done you no harm. As you seek to kill me, I shall certainly today send you to the abode of Yama,

Vaishampayana said : Seeing that firm wielder of bow Falguni (Arjuna) about to kill him, (the Danava), Shankara (Shiva) in the disguise of the Kirata suddenly asked him to stop.

(He said), “This boar like the Indrakila in colour has been first aimed by me." But disregarding his word, Falguni (Arjuna) struck it.

At that very moment the greatly effulgent Kirata also shot an arrow like the flaming fire or the blazing thunderbolt.

The two arrows thus shot by the two (men) fell at the same time on the huge and adamantine body of Muka.

The two arrows fell on him with a loud sound as that of lightning or as that of the thunder falling on a mountain.

Thus struck by the two arrows which were like flaming-mouthed snakes, Muka, assuming his fearful Rakshasas form, gave up his life.

Thereupon Jishnu (Arjuna), that slayer of foes, saw before him the person with the form of blazing gold, disguised as a Kirata and accompanied by many women. The son of Kunti then with a cheerful heart smilingly asked him. “Who are you wandering in this solitary forest surrounded by women?

O golden-splendoured one, are you not afraid of this fearful forest? Why have you pierced the boar that was first aimed by me.

This Rakshasas either listlessly or with the intention of killing me came here and he was first aimed by me, therefore you cannot escape from me with your life.

What you have done towards me is quite contrary to the usage of the chase. O mountaineer, therefore, I shall take your life.”

Having been thus addressed by the Pandava, the Kirata spoke to the son of Pandu, Savyasachi (Arjuna), in these sweet words.

"O hero, you need not be anxious for my dwelling in the forest. This forest-land is the proper abode for us who (always) dwell in the forest.

O ascetic, why have you selected to live here amidst these difficulties and dangers? We always live in these forests full of various sorts of animals.

You are delicate; you are brought up in luxury; and you are as effulgent as the fire, why do you wander alone in this solitary forest?"

Arjuna said: Depending on my Gandiva(bow) and my arrows as blazing as the fire, I live in this great forest like a second son of fire (Kartikeya).

See, this great beast, this fearful Rakshasas, who came here in the form of an animal, has been killed by me.

The Kirata said: This one (the Rakshasas) was first struck with the arrow shot from my bow. He was killed and sent to the abode of Yama by me.

He was first aimed by me, he was first claimed by mc and it is from my shot that he has lost his life.

Being proud of your strength, you should not blame others for your own fault. O wickedminded wretch, you are yourself in fault and therefore you will not escape from me with life.

Stop, I shall shoot at you arrows like the thunder. Try your best if you can and shoot at me your arrows.

Vaishampayana said : Having heard these words of the Kirata, Arjuna, grew angry and began to strike him with numerous arrows.

Thereupon he (the Kirata) received upon himself all those arrows with a cheerful heart, He again and again said "O wretch, Owretch,

Shoot at me your best arrows that are capable of piercing to the very heart." Having been thus addressed, Arjuna poured a shower of arrows upon him.

Thereupon both of thein became angry. Engaging in a fearful fight, they hurled again and again at each other showers of poisonous snake-like arrows.

Arjuna poured a shower of arrows on the Kirata, but Shankara (Shiva) received them all upon him with a cheerful heart.

Having born that shower of arrows for a moment, the wiclder of Pinaka, (Shiva) stood there in unwounded body like an immovable mountain.

Seeing his shower of arrows had no effects (on his adversary), Dhananjaya (Arjuna) became greatly surprised; and he exclaimed "Excellent" "Excellent."

"Alas, this delicate bodied mountaincer of the Himalayas bear unmoved the arrows shot from the Gandiva.

Who is he? Is he the deity Rudra (Shiva) himself? Is he a Yaksha or a celestials or a Asura? The celestials often come to this best of mountains.

Except the deity, the wielder of Pinaka, there is none else that can with stand the force of the thousands of arrows shot by me from the Gandiva.

Whether he is a celestials or a Yaksha, any body cxcept Rudra (Shiva), I Shall soon send him to the abode of Yama with my these sharp arrows."

O king, thereupon Jishnu, (Arjuna) with a chcerful heart began to hurl thousands of arrows, (each) capable of piercing to the very heart, as the sun spreads his rays (all over the world).

The exalted Creator of the world, the wielder of trident, with a cheerful heart bore that shower of arrows, as a mountain does a shower of rocks.

The arrows of Falguni were soon exhausted; and seeing that all his arrows were exhausted, he was seized with great fear.

Jishnu (Arjuna) then thought of the exalted Agni who had forinerly given him two inexhaustible quivers at the burning of the Khandava.

(He inentally said), "Alas, my arrows are exhausted! What shall I shoot now from my bow? Who is this person who swallows up my arrows. Killing him by striking with the end of my bow as elephants are killed by clubs, I shall then send him to the wielder of mace, Yama."

Taking up the bow and dragging him (the Kirata) with his bow-string, the greally effulgent (Arjuna) struck him some fearful blows which descended upon him as thunderbolis.

When that slayer of hostile heroes the son of Kunti, began to fight with the end of the bow, that mountaineer snatched (from his hand) that excellent bow.

His bow having been snatched away from his hand, Arjuna, with the desire of ending the fight, rushed with great force at his adversary with sword in hand.

Then that prince of the Kuru race struck that sharp weapon in his (Kirata's) head with the whole strength of his arms, a weapon which could not be resisted even by solid rocks.

But that best of swords on falling on his head broke into pieces. Thereupon Falguni began to fight with trees and stones.

Then the exalted deity in the disguise of the huge-bodied Kirata bore that shower of trees and stones too. The greatly strong Partha (Arjuna).

His mouth smoking with wrath, struck (again) that irrepressible (deity) in the form of the Kirata with fists which were like thunderbolts.

The exalted deity in the form of the Kirata then struck at Falguni with fists which were (also) like the thunder-bolt of Indra.

In consequence of the fight with fists between the son of Pandu (Arjuna) and the Kirata, great sounds arose in that place.

That fearful and hair-stirring fight with fists, resembling that of Vasava (Indra) and Vitra, lasted only for a moment.

The powerful Jishnu (Arjuna), clasping the Kirata (with his both arms) began to press him with his breast. The greatly strong Kirata (also) pressed the insensible son of Pandu.

In consequence of pressure of their arms and of their breasts, their bodies emitted smokes, as charcoal does in fire.

Thereupon the great god pressed his (Arjuna's) body and attacking him in anger with all his might, he deprived him of his consciousness.

O descendant of Bharata, Falguni (Arjuna) thus pressed by the god of gods and his body bruised, became almost like a ball of flesh.

Pressed by the high-souled deity, he became breathless and falling on the ground without the power of moving, he looked like one who was dead.

He soon however regained consciousness. Rising up from the ground, his body being covered with blood, the Pandava (Arjuna) becanie overwhelmed with sorrow

Mentally bowing before the exalted deity of the Pinaka and making a clay image of that deity, he worshipped it with garlands of flowers.

Seeing the garlands that he had offered to the (clay image) adorning the head of the Kirata, that best of the Pandava, Partha (Arjuna), was filled with joy and he then regained his ease.

Thereupon he prostrated himself at his feet and Vava (Shiva) became gratified. Seeing his astonishment and his body emaciated with ascetic austerities, the deity thus spoke to his in the voice as that of the roaring clouds.

Shiva said: O Falguni, I am pleased with you for your matchless deeds. There is no Kshatriya who is equal to you in courage and patience.

O mighty-armed hero, O best of the Bharata race, O sinless one, your strength and prowess are almost equal to mine. I have been pleased with you. Behold me.

O large-eyed hero, I will give you eyes, (so that you may see me in my real form). You were formerly a Rishi. You will vanquish all your enemies, even (if they be) the dwellers of heaven.

Being pleased with you, I shall give you an irrerestible weapon; you shall soon acquire (great) weapons.

Vaishampayana said: Thereupon Falguni (Arjuna) saw that greatly effulgent deity, the great god, the dweller of the mountain, the wielder of the Pinaka, with his wife.

Kneeling (before him) and bowing down his head to him, that conqueror of enemy's cities, Partha, gratificd Hara (Shiva).

Arjuna said : O Kapardin, O chief of all the celestials, O destroyer of Vaga's eyes, O god of gods, O great god, O blue throated deity of mattedlocks.

O three-eyed god, O lord of all, I know you to be the cause of all causes. You are the refuge of all the celestials. The universe has sprung from you.

You are incapable of being vanquished by the three worlds of the celestials, of the Asuras and of men. You are Shiva in the form of Vishnu and Vishnu in the form of Shiva.

You destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha. O Hari, O Rudra, I bow to you. You have an eye on your forehead. O Sharva, O Medrusha, O wielder of trident.

O wielder of the Pinaka, O Surya, O pure bodied deity, O exalted one, O lord of all creatures, I adore you.

O lord of the Ganas, O source of Universal blessings, O (first) cause of the causes of the universe, the foremost of Purusha, the highest and the sublimes Hara.

O exalted one, O Shankara, you should pardon my fault. It was to get a sight of yourself that I came to this great mountain.

Which is dear to you and which is the excellent abode of ascetics. O chief of the celestials, you are adored by all the worlds and I adore you.

Let not my rashness in the combat that I have fought with you from ignorance be considered by you as a fault. O Shankara, I ask your protection. Pardon me for all I have done.

Vaishampayana said : The greatly effulgent Vrishabdhvaja (Shiva), taking hold of the handsome hands of Arjuna, smilingly said to him, “I have pardoned you."

The exalted Hara, whose sign was the bull, (Shiva), cheerfully embracing Arjuna with his arins, again consoled him and thus spoke to him.