Shloka 22
एवमुक्तो गुडाकेश: प्रगृह्म सशरं धनु: । आमुक्तखड््गो मेधावी तत् सर: प्रत्यपद्यत,युधिष्ठिरके ऐसा कहनेपर निद्राविजयी बुद्धिमान् अर्जुन धनुष-बाण और खड़्ग लिये उस सरोवरके तटपर गये
yakṣa uvāca | evam ukto guḍākeśaḥ pragṛhya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ | āmuktakhaḍgo medhāvī tat saraḥ pratyapadyata ||
The Yaksha said: Thus addressed, Gudakesha (Arjuna)—the wise conqueror of sleep—took up his bow with arrows and, with his sword girded on, went toward that lake. The scene underscores disciplined readiness: even in uncertainty, the righteous act with alertness, restraint, and preparedness rather than rashness.
यक्ष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined preparedness and self-mastery: Arjuna, described as wise and a conqueror of sleep, responds to a summons with alertness and restraint, embodying dharmic readiness rather than impulsive action.
After the Yaksha’s words, Arjuna arms himself—bow with arrows and a girded sword—and proceeds to the lake, setting up the ensuing confrontation in the Yaksha-prashna episode.