221.1 Lord Siva, in the form of a Kirata, confronts Arjuna
After all those illustrious ascetics had gone away, that wielder of the Pinaka and cleanser of all sins--the illustrious Hara--assuming the form of a Kirata resplendent as a golden tree, and with a huge and stalwart form like a second Meru, and taking up in hand some bow and a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, and looking like an embodiment of fire, came quickly down on the breast of Himavat. And the handsome god of gods was accompanied by Uma in the guise of a Kirata woman, and also by a swarm of merry spirits of various forms and attire, and by thousands of women in the form and attire of Kiratas. And that region suddenly blazed up in beauty, in consequence of the arrival of the god of gods in such company. And soon enough a solemn stillness pervaded the place. The sounds of springs, and water-courses, and of birds suddenly ceased. And as the god of gods approached Pritha's son of blameless deeds, he beheld a wonderful sight, even that of a Danava named Muka, seeking, in the form of a boar, to slay Arjuna. Phalguna, at the sight of the enemy seeking to slay him, took up the Gandiva and a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison. And stringing his bow and filling the air with its twang, he addressed the boar and said "I have come here but done you no injury. As you seekest to slay me, I shall certainly send you to the abode of Yama."
Beholding that firm wielder of the bow--Phalguna--about to slay the boar, Sankara in the guise of a Kirata suddenly bade him stop saying "The boar like the mountain of Indrakila in hue hath been aimed at by me first". Phalguna, however, disregarding these words, struck the boar. The Kirata also blazing splendour, let fly an arrow like flaming fire and resembling the thunderbolt at the same object. And the arrows thus shot by both fell at the same instant of time upon the wide body of Muka, with a loud sound, even like that of Indra's thunderbolt and the thunder of the clouds falling together upon the breast of a mountain. And Muka, thus struck by two shafts which produced numerous arrows resembling snakes of blazing mouths, yielded up his life, assuming once more his terrible Rakshasa form. Jishnu then beheld before him that person, of form blazing as god, and attired in the dress of a Kirata and accompanied by many women. And beholding him, Arjuna with a joyous heart addressed him smilingly and said "Who are you that thus wanders in these solitary woods, surrounded by women? you of the splendour of gold, are you not afraid of this terrible forest? Why, again, did you shoot the boar that was first aimed at by me? This Rakshasa that came hither, listlessly or with the object, of slaying me, had been first aimed at by me. you shall not, therefore, escape from me with life. your behaviour towards me is not consistent with the customs of the chase. Therefore, O mountaineer, I will take your life." Thus addressed by Arjuna, the Kirata, smiling replied in soft words, saying "O hero, you need not be anxious on my account. This forest land is proper abode for us who always dwell in the woods. Respecting yourself, however, I may inquire, why you have selected your abode here amid such difficulties. We, O ascetic, have our habitation in these woods abounding in animals of all kinds. Why do you, so delicate and brought up in luxury and possessed of the splendour of fire, dwell alone in such a solitary region?"
Arjuna said "Depending on the Gandiva and arrows blazing like fire, I live in this great forest, like a second Pavaki. you have seen how this monster--this terrible Rakshasa--that came hither in the form of an animal, hath been slain by me." The Kirata replied "This Rakshasa, first struck with the shot from my bow, was killed and sent to the regions of Yama by me. He was first aimed at by me. And it is with my shot that he has been deprived of life. Proud of your strength, it behoves you not to impute your own fault to others. you are yourself in fault, O wretch, and, therefore, shall not escape from me with life. Stay you: I will shoot at you shafts like thunderbolts. Strive you also and shoot, to the best of your power, your arrows at me."
Beholding that firm wielder of the bow--Phalguna--about to slay the boar, Sankara in the guise of a Kirata suddenly bade him stop saying "The boar like the mountain of Indrakila in hue hath been aimed at by me first". Phalguna, however, disregarding these words, struck the boar. The Kirata also blazing splendour, let fly an arrow like flaming fire and resembling the thunderbolt at the same object. And the arrows thus shot by both fell at the same instant of time upon the wide body of Muka, with a loud sound, even like that of Indra's thunderbolt and the thunder of the clouds falling together upon the breast of a mountain. And Muka, thus struck by two shafts which produced numerous arrows resembling snakes of blazing mouths, yielded up his life, assuming once more his terrible Rakshasa form. Jishnu then beheld before him that person, of form blazing as god, and attired in the dress of a Kirata and accompanied by many women. And beholding him, Arjuna with a joyous heart addressed him smilingly and said "Who are you that thus wanders in these solitary woods, surrounded by women? you of the splendour of gold, are you not afraid of this terrible forest? Why, again, did you shoot the boar that was first aimed at by me? This Rakshasa that came hither, listlessly or with the object, of slaying me, had been first aimed at by me. you shall not, therefore, escape from me with life. your behaviour towards me is not consistent with the customs of the chase. Therefore, O mountaineer, I will take your life." Thus addressed by Arjuna, the Kirata, smiling replied in soft words, saying "O hero, you need not be anxious on my account. This forest land is proper abode for us who always dwell in the woods. Respecting yourself, however, I may inquire, why you have selected your abode here amid such difficulties. We, O ascetic, have our habitation in these woods abounding in animals of all kinds. Why do you, so delicate and brought up in luxury and possessed of the splendour of fire, dwell alone in such a solitary region?"
Arjuna said "Depending on the Gandiva and arrows blazing like fire, I live in this great forest, like a second Pavaki. you have seen how this monster--this terrible Rakshasa--that came hither in the form of an animal, hath been slain by me." The Kirata replied "This Rakshasa, first struck with the shot from my bow, was killed and sent to the regions of Yama by me. He was first aimed at by me. And it is with my shot that he has been deprived of life. Proud of your strength, it behoves you not to impute your own fault to others. you are yourself in fault, O wretch, and, therefore, shall not escape from me with life. Stay you: I will shoot at you shafts like thunderbolts. Strive you also and shoot, to the best of your power, your arrows at me."