Shloka 23

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

तत्र चागत्य चाण्डालो हारण्ये कृतकेतन: । प्रयोजयति चोन्माथं नित्यमस्तंगते रवौ

Transliteration

tatra cāgatya cāṇḍālo hāraṇye kṛtaketanaḥ | prayojayati conmāthaṃ nityam astaṃgate ravau ||

Translation

ସେଠାକୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ଚାଣ୍ଡାଳ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆସି ସେହି ଅରଣ୍ୟରେ ନିଜ ନିବାସ ସ୍ଥାପନ କଲା। ସେ ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟାସ୍ତ ପରେ ସେଠାକୁ ଆସି ଫାନ୍ଦ (ଜାଲ) ପତାଇ, ତାହାର ଦୋରିଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଯଥାସ୍ଥାନେ ବାନ୍ଧି ଘରକୁ ଫେରି ନିଶ୍ଚିନ୍ତରେ ଶୁଏ; ପ୍ରଭାତ ହେଲେ ପୁଣି ସେଠାକୁ ଆସେ।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• आगत्य: having come
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• चाण्डालः: a caṇḍāla (outcaste)
• चाण्डालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• हारण्ये: in the forest-region
• हारण्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हारण्य
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• कृतकेतनः: having made a dwelling; with a built abode
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-केतन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• प्रयोजयति: sets in motion; employs; spreads
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-युज्
• Form: present, indicative, parasmaipada, third, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उन्माथम्: a snare/net-trap (device for catching)
• उन्माथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्माथ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• नित्यम्: always; daily
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• अस्तंगते: when (it is) set; at sunset
• अस्तंगते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्तं-गत
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• रवौ: in/when the sun
• रवौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Caṇḍāla
• forest (āraṇya)
• sun (ravi)
• snare/trap (unmātha)
• dwelling/house (ketana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up an ethical scenario: a person living on the margins follows a fixed routine of laying traps at sunset and returning at dawn. In Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, such details typically prepare reflection on how habitual actions, means of livelihood, and intention can carry moral weight and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Caṇḍāla residing in a forest goes each evening after sunset to a particular place, sets a snare by arranging its cords properly, returns home to sleep, and comes back in the morning—describing a regular trapping routine.