Mahabharata 3.42.2 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 42, Shloka 2

Lokapāla-samāgamaḥ—Arjuna Receives Astras from the World-Guardians

Book 3, Chapter 42

Devanagari script

ततश्चिन्तयमानस्य गुडाकेशस्य धीमत: । रथो मातलिसंयुक्त आजगाम महाप्रभ:,निद्राविजयी बुद्धिमान्‌ पार्थके चिन्तन करते ही मातलिसहित महातेजस्वी रथ वहाँ आ गया

Transliteration

tataś cintayamānasya guḍākeśasya dhīmataḥ | ratho mātalisaṃyukta ājagāma mahāprabhaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Tandis que le sage Guḍākeśa (Arjuna) demeurait plongé dans la réflexion, un char splendide et rayonnant, attelé et accompagné de Mātali, arriva en ce lieu.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: avyaya

• चिन्तयमानस्य: of (him) thinking/pondering
• चिन्तयमानस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्तयत् (धातु: चिन्त्)
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular (present active participle used adjectivally)

• गुडाकेशस्य: of Gudākeśa (Arjuna; 'conqueror of sleep')
• गुडाकेशस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुडाकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• धीमतः: of the intelligent one
• धीमतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• रथः: the chariot
• रथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• मातलि-संयुक्तः: joined with Mātali / accompanied by Mātali
• मातलि-संयुक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संयुक्त (कृदन्त; धातु: युज् + सम्, क्त)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• आजगाम: came, arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + आ
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• महाप्रभः: of great splendor/majesty
• महाप्रभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Guḍākeśa (Arjuna)
• Mātali
• ratha (chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the value of inner discipline and thoughtful reflection: when a person is self-controlled and wise, circumstances (often symbolized by divine or providential support) align to provide guidance and means for righteous action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna (called Guḍākeśa) is deep in contemplation when a radiant chariot arrives, accompanied by Mātali, signaling the entrance of a divine conveyance and the beginning of a new development in the episode.