Shiva recognized Arjuna and knew the purpose for which he was there. But he had to test Arjuna’s devotion before granting his wish. Arjuna began penance to worship Shiva, who came into the forest as a hunter, along with his wife, Parvati. He was pursuing a boar that charged at Arjuna. Simultaneously, the hunter Kirata, and Arjuna shot the boar. Unsure about who killed the boar, they decided to settle it with a contest. The contest between them went on for long, but Arjuna could not beat his opponent. When Arjuna found he could not defeat his opponent, he made a shivalinga, placed a garland on it and prayed to Shiva. Suddenly, he saw the Kirata wearing the garland and realized that he was Shiva himself. He asked forgiveness. Shiva, pleased with Arjuna, gave him the Pashupata weapon. All the gods appeared to bless Arjuna and granted him their own special divine weapons.
Pashupatastra
