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Shloka 71

Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment

त्वयोपगूढस्य च मे निद्रयापहतं मन: । ततो<पश्यं तमो घोर पुरुषं च महौजसम्‌,“तुम्हारे अंगोंका स्पर्श होनेसे मेरा मन नींदमें खो गया। तत्पश्चात्‌ मुझे घोर अंधकार दिखायी दिया। साथ ही एक महातेजस्वी दिव्य पुरुषका दर्शन हुआ

tvayopagūḍhasya ca me nidrayāpahataṃ manaḥ | tato 'paśyaṃ tamo ghoraṃ puruṣaṃ ca mahaujasam ||

“When you embraced me, my mind was overcome by sleep. Then I beheld a dreadful darkness, and also a mighty, radiant Person.”

त्वयाby you
त्वया:
Karana
TypeNoun/Pronoun
Rootत्वद्
Form—, Instrumental, Singular
उपगूढस्यof (one) embraced/closely held
उपगूढस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootउपगूढ (उप-√गुह्)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मेof me / my
मे:
Sampradana
TypeNoun/Pronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Genitive, Singular
निद्रयाby sleep
निद्रया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनिद्रा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
अपहतम्overcome/struck down
अपहतम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअपहत (अप-√हन्)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
मनःmind
मनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ततःthen/from that
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
अपश्यंI saw
अपश्यं:
TypeVerb
Root√दृश्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 1st, Singular
तमःdarkness
तमः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतमस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
घोरम्terrible
घोरम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पुरुषम्a man/person
पुरुषम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महौजसम्of great vigor/splendor
महौजसम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहौजस् (महत् + ओजस्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

यम उवाच

यम (Yama)
पुरुष (a mighty Person; divine figure implied)
निद्रा (Sleep, personified as a force)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores that encounters tied to dharma and the cosmic law of death can overwhelm ordinary consciousness, leading to a revelatory vision. It suggests that behind fear (darkness) stands a higher, powerful presence, reminding the listener that ethical order operates beyond immediate perception.

Yama describes being embraced, after which his mind is overtaken by sleep. In that altered state he experiences a terrifying darkness and then sees a great, powerful Person—indicating a sudden transition from normal awareness to a vision with divine or otherworldly significance.