Yudhiṣṭhira replied to Bhīma's outbursts with total honesty and sincerity. He agreed to what Bhīma said and told him that he valued Dharma more than his own life. Kingdom, sons, fame and wealth put together equated only to a sixteenth part of Truth.

Not satisfied with Yudhiṣṭhira's replies to his accusations and his strategy to wait for the right time, Bhīma said that Yudhiṣṭhira was procrastinating and a Kshatriya should achieve fame by overcoming their enemies.

Vyāsa imparted this knowledge to Yudhiṣṭhira. Yudhiṣṭhira imparted this knowledge to Arjuna at the right time. Using this knowledge, Devas' grace would flow to Arjuna.

Travelling long and difficult terrains, Arjuna reached Indrakeela mountain and stayed there. There he heard a voice asking him to stop. That was an ascetic with splendour and brilliance. The ascetic identified himself as Indra and told him that when he sees Lord Shiva, his wishes will be fulfilled. Saying thus, he vanished.

Having known Arjuna's wishes, Shiva arrived at the place where Arjuna was. When he approached Arjuna, a Dānava by the name of Mūka who was in the form of a wild boar was trying to slay Arjuna. Arjuna strung his Gāndiva with a twang and resolved to kill the wild boar.

After the fierce battle between Arjuna and Lord Shiva, Arjuna was rendered unconscious by Mahādeva. Gradually regaining consciousness, Arjua realised his mistake of fighting Shiva and with devotion and regret he made a clay image of the Lord and worshipped it with flowers. He saw with delight the garland he offered to the image was decorating the crown of the Lord.

Pleased with Arjuna's stuti, Lord Shiva blessed him with the supreme divine weapon of Pāśupatāstram. Shiva also blessed Arjuna with regaining the powers of inexhaustible quivers gifted by Agni Deva.

Vyāsa advised Yudhiṣṭhira not to reside in one place for any length of time. As he was maintaining a number of Brāhmanas versed in the Vedas and also hunting at the same place, continued residence in one place might exhaust the natural resources.

After blessing Arjuna, Lord Shiva departed along with Umadevi. Then, Varuṇa, Yama and Indra all came down to bless Arjuna. Arjuna learnt the art of releasing and retrieving Gadāyudha from Yama, Varuṇāstra from Varuṇa. Kubera blessed Arjuna with divine vision as well as weapons with which he could defeat even the Daityas and Dānavas.

After taking leave of his brothers and Draupadī, with the blessings of his Purohit Daumya, Arjuna travelled arduous routes and reached a place called Indrakeela mountain.

Śakra, Purandara are a few of many other names of Indra

Having felt deep remorse for fighting Bhagavān Shiva, Arjuna addresses Him with this name and sings praises of the Lord. Gangā avataranam is indicated through His matted hair as per Sāyanāchariyar's bhāshyam.