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Shloka 27

Dhanañjaya-viraha-śoka and the Resolve to Enter Gandhamādana (धनंजय-विरह-शोकः गन्धमादन-प्रवेश-संकल्पश्च)

मक्षिकादंशमशकानू्‌ सिंहान्‌ व्याप्रान्‌ सरीसूपान्‌ | प्राप्रोत्यनियत: पार्थ नियतस्तान्‌ न पश्यति,भीमसेन! जो अपने मन और इन्द्रियोंपर संयम नहीं रखता, ऐसे मनुष्यको वहाँ जानेपर मक्खी, डाँस, मच्छर, सिंह, व्याप्र और सर्पोका सामना करना पड़ता है, परंतु जो संयम- नियमसे रहनेवाला है, उसे उन जन्तुओंका दर्शनतक नहीं होता

makṣikādaṃśamaśakān siṃhān vyāghrān sarīsṛpān | prāpnoty aniyataḥ pārtha niyatas tān na paśyati bhīmasena ||

قال يودهيشثيرا: «يا بارثا، إن غير المنضبط—الذي لا يكبح عقله وحواسه—إذا قصد ذلك الموضع لقي الذباب والذباب اللاسع والبعوض والأسود والنمور والحيات الزاحفة. أمّا من ملك نفسه وعاش على الكفّ والقاعدة، فلا يرى تلك المخلوقات حتى رؤية.»

{'makṣikā''fly', 'daṃśa': 'gadfly
{'makṣikā':
biting fly', 'maśaka''mosquito', 'siṃha': 'lion', 'vyāghra': 'tiger', 'sarīsṛpa': 'creeping creature
biting fly', 'maśaka':
reptile (esp. serpent)', 'prāpnoti''attains
reptile (esp. serpent)', 'prāpnoti':
encounters', 'aniyataḥ''unrestrained
encounters', 'aniyataḥ':
undisciplined', 'niyataḥ''restrained
undisciplined', 'niyataḥ':
self-controlled', 'na paśyati''does not see
self-controlled', 'na paśyati':
does not behold', 'pārtha''son of Pṛthā
does not behold', 'pārtha':
an address to Arjuna', 'bhīmasena''Bhīma
an address to Arjuna', 'bhīmasena':

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
P
Pārtha (Arjuna)
B
Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
F
flies (makṣikā)
G
gadflies (daṃśa)
M
mosquitoes (maśaka)
L
lions (siṃha)
T
tigers (vyāghra)
S
serpents/reptiles (sarīsṛpa)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that external dangers are closely tied to inner discipline: an unrestrained person, driven by uncontrolled mind and senses, is prone to encounter harm and disturbance, whereas one who lives with niyama (regulated conduct) and self-restraint moves through the same environment without being afflicted—suggesting that ethical and mental discipline shapes one’s experience of the world.

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Pārtha (Arjuna) and also calls out to Bhīma, explaining a principle relevant to life in the forest: those lacking restraint face many threats (insects and wild beasts), but the disciplined person does not even come into contact with them. The statement functions as practical counsel and moral instruction during the Pāṇḍavas’ forest context.