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Shloka 24

प्रसुप्ताविव तौ दृष्टवा नरसिंह: सुदु:खित: । धनुरुद्यम्य कौन्तेयो व्यलोकयत तद्‌ वनम्‌,दोनोंको प्रगाढ़ निद्रामें सोये हुएकी भाँति देखकर मनुष्योंमें सिंहके समान पराक्रमी अर्जुनको बहुत दुःख हुआ। उन्होंने धनुष उठाकर उस वनका अच्छी तरह निरीक्षण किया

prasuptāv iva tau dṛṣṭvā narasiṁhaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ | dhanur udyamya kaunteyo vyalokayat tad vanam ||

Seeing the two of them lying as if in deep sleep, the lion among men was overwhelmed with sorrow. Lifting his bow, the son of Kuntī carefully surveyed that forest—alert, searching for the cause, and ready to act with restraint rather than rash violence.

प्रसुप्तौasleep
प्रसुप्तौ:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रसुप्त (प्र-√स्वप्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Dual
इवlike/as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
तौthose two (them)
तौ:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Dual
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Root√दृश्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada
नरसिंहःlion among men (hero)
नरसिंहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनरसिंह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सुदुःखितःvery sorrowful
सुदुःखितः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुदुःखित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
उद्यम्यhaving raised/taken up
उद्यम्य:
TypeVerb
Rootउद्-√यम्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada
कौन्तेयःson of Kuntī (Arjuna)
कौन्तेयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकौन्तेय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
व्यलोकयत्looked around/inspected
व्यलोकयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√लोक्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वनम्forest
वनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

यक्ष उवाच

यक्ष (Yakṣa)
कौन्तेय (Arjuna)
धनुः (bow)
वन (forest)
तौ (the two persons lying asleep)

Educational Q&A

In a moment of shock and grief, the hero does not act blindly; he first observes and investigates. The verse highlights disciplined courage—compassionate concern combined with alertness and measured readiness.

The Yakṣa narrates that Arjuna sees two companions lying motionless as if asleep. Stricken with sorrow, he raises his bow and carefully scans the forest, trying to understand what has happened and where the danger may be.