Sages & Others
Arshtishena
आर्ष्टिषेण
The Skeleton Ascetic
Who was Arshtishena?
Arshtishena (आर्ष्टिषेण): The Skeleton Ascetic, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. A royal sage whose penances had burnt away his flesh until only muscle and bone remained.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | आर्ष्टिषेण |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Skeleton Ascetic |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | Emaciated, Learned, Cautionary, Hospitable |
| Notable relationships | Host of: Yudhishthira, Guardian of: Draupadi, Fellow in penance: Vishvamitra |
| Featured in | 6 stories |
About Arshtishena
A royal sage whose penances had burnt away his flesh until only muscle and bone remained. He kept his hermitage below the peaks of Gandhamadana, taught the Pandavas the duties proper to that mountain and warned them how far they might safely go; when Bhima vanished among the crags, Draupadi was left in his charge.
In Their Words
Beyond this ridge the road belongs to the Siddhas; go no further on mortal feet.
Arshtishena
Traits
- Emaciated
- Learned
- Cautionary
- Hospitable
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Arshtishena
4 further tales on this site name Arshtishena, in canonical reading order.
- The Map of the WorldsA priest naming the four quarters of the cosmos from a mountain shoulder
- The Head That Would Not Let GoWhy the ford on the Sarasvati is called Kapalamochana
- The Rain Agastya Did Not NeedTwelve years of drought against one sage's seeds
- The Kings Who Gave LawfullyIndra refuses the Rishis, a king answers for convenience, and the names of those who reached heaven by honest gifts
Character Arc
- The Failed LessonYears in his preceptor's house leave him master of nothing
- The PenanceBy austerities alone he attains the status of a Brahmana
- The WarningHe tells the Pandavas which heights no mortal may cross
Key Relationships
- Host ofYudhishthira
- Guardian ofDraupadi
- Fellow in penanceVishvamitra
Places in Arshtishena's Story
Drawn from the stories Arshtishena appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.