Kirātārjunīya (,
Of Arjuna and the Kirāta) is a
Sanskrit kavya by
Bhāravi, written in the 6th century or earlier. It is an
epic poem in eighteen cantos describing the combat between
Arjuna and lord
Shiva at Indrakeeladri hills in present-day
Vijayawada in the guise of a
kirāta or mountain-dwelling hunter. Along with the
Naiṣadhacarita and the
Shishupala Vadha, it is one of the larger three of the six Sanskrit
mahakavyas, or great epics. It is noted among Sanskrit critics both for its gravity or depth of meaning, and for its forceful and sometimes playful expression. This includes a canto set aside for demonstrating linguistic feats, similar to
constrained writing. Later works of epic poetry followed the model of the
Kirātārjunīya.