Kiratham

Scene: 1- Arjuna and Panchali

Arjuna is preparing to do thapas for obtaining Pasupathasthra from Siva on the advise of his elder brother Dharmaputhra. He tells Panchali of his resolve, Panchali understands the necessity for this, and sends him gladly to do thapas.

Scene: 2 – Arjuna

Arjuna sets out to the Himalayas to do thapas. He sees Mount Kailas and is enraptured by its beauty and grandeur. He selects a suitable spot and begins his thapas.

Scene: 3 – Kattala and Kattalasthree

Arjuna is in deep thapas. A boar which is really Mukasura sent by Duryodhana to kill Arjuna appears and Arjuna sends an arrow at the beast. The Kattala who appears on the scene also sends an arrow at the boar. A dispute arises between Arjuna and the kattala as to who killed the boar.

The dispute soon leads to a fight. The Kattalasthree tries to dissuade the Kattala from the fight, but he says that Arjuna’s strength and skill have to be tested, and his pride has to be curbed before any boon can be granted. The fight continues and kattalasthree again tries to stop it. Neither antagonist can be turned back. She curses Arjuna that his arrows will turn to flowers before they fall on Kattala. Arjuna tries to beat Kattala with his bow. The Kattala snatches it and throws it away. Kattala throws Arjuna to the ground.

The Kattala and Kattalasthree move away. Arjuna recovers, and is saddened that he has neither the strength nor the skill to fight even a Kattala. He makes a idol of Siva with sand and worships him offering flowers to the idol. He finds that the flowers fall at the feet of Kattala., and realizes that all the while he has been fighting with Siva and falls to his feet and asks for forgiveness.

The Kattala and Kattalasthree now appear as Siva and Parvathi. They bless Arjuna and gives him many boons including Pasupathasthra.