Shloka 5

धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Sañjaya on Arjuna’s Indraloka report and the political consequences

Devanagari script

निर्गम्य चन्द्रोदयने विगाढे रजनीमुखे । प्रस्थिता सा पृथुश्रोणी पार्थस्य भवन प्रति,संध्याको चन्द्रोदय होनेपर जब चारों ओर चाँदनी छिटक गयी, उस समय वह विशाल नितम्बोंवाली अप्सरा अपने भवनसे निकलकर अर्जुनके निवासस्थानकी ओर चली

Transliteration

nirgamya candrodayane vigāḍhe rajanīmukhe | prasthitā sā pṛthuśroṇī pārthasya bhavana prati ||

Translation

ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಸಂಧ್ಯೆ ಗಾಢವಾಗಿ ಚಂದ್ರೋದಯವಾದಾಗ, ಆ ವಿಶಾಲ ನಿತಂಬದ ಅಪ್ಸರೆ ತನ್ನ ನಿವಾಸದಿಂದ ಹೊರಟು ಪಾರ್ಥನ ನಿವಾಸದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಹೊರಟಳು.

Word by Word

निर्गम्यhaving gone out

चन्द्रोदयनेat moonrise

विगाढेdeep, far advanced

रजनीमुखेat the beginning of night

प्रस्थिताset out, departed

साshe

पृथुश्रोणीbroad-hipped

पार्थस्यof Partha (Arjuna)

भवनम्dwelling, residence

प्रतिtowards

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pārtha (Arjuna)

Apsaras (unnamed in this verse)

Moon (Candra)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up an ethical test: alluring circumstances and desire can approach quietly and beautifully, but a dharmic life requires vigilance and self-mastery, especially for one committed to vows and higher aims.

What is happening in the narrative?

At nightfall, after moonrise, an apsaras leaves her own abode and walks toward Arjuna’s residence, initiating the next phase of an encounter in which Arjuna’s conduct and restraint will be tested.