Mahabharata (Gita Press) 3.39.17 - Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 17
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
स ददर्श ततो जिष्णु: पुरुषं काउचनप्रभम् । किरातवेषसंच्छन्नं सत्रीसहायममित्रहा
sa dadarśa tato jiṣṇuḥ puruṣaṃ kāñcanaprabhām | kirātaveṣasaṃchannaṃ sa-strī-sahāyam amitrahā ||
അപ്പോൾ ശത്രുഹന്താവായ ജിഷ്ണു (അർജുനൻ) സ്വർണ്ണത്തെപ്പോലെ ദീപ്തിയുള്ള ഒരു തേജസ്വിയായ പുരുഷനെ കണ്ടു; അവൻ കിരാതവേഷം ധരിച്ചു മറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു, സ്ത്രീകളോടുകൂടിയുമായിരുന്നു।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights alertness and discernment: even in solitude, a dharmic warrior remains watchful, questioning appearances and motives—especially when something seems out of place (a ‘Kirāta’ figure moving with women in a deserted forest).
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna notices a striking, gold-radiant man who is hiding his identity under a Kirāta hunter’s costume and is accompanied by women; Arjuna, amused yet cautious, prepares to question him.
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