Mahabharata 3.46.5 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 46, 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

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

• निर्गम्य: having gone out
• निर्गम्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्गम् (नि + √गम्)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• चन्द्रोदयने: at moonrise
• चन्द्रोदयने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रोदय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विगाढे: deep, far advanced
• विगाढे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगाढ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• रजनीमुखे: at the beginning of night
• रजनीमुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनीमुख
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रस्थिता: set out, departed
• प्रस्थिता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रस्था (प्र + √स्था)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used actively), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सः/सा/तत्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पृथुश्रोणी: broad-hipped
• पृथुश्रोणी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथुश्रोणी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थस्य: of Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भवनम्: dwelling, residence
• भवनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Apsaras (unnamed in this verse)
• Moon (Candra)

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.