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Shloka 75

Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment

नक्तंचराश्नरन्त्येते हृष्ट: क्रराभिभाषिण: । श्रूयन्ते पर्णशब्दाश्व॒ मृगाणां चरतां वने,ये क्रूर बोली बोलनेवाले निशाचर यहाँ प्रसन्नतापूर्वक विचर रहे हैं। वनमें घूमते हुए मृगोंके पैरोंसे लगकर पत्तोंके मर्मर शब्द सुनायी पड़ते हैं

naktamcarāś naranty ete hṛṣṭāḥ krūrābhibhāṣiṇaḥ | śrūyante parṇaśabdāś ca mṛgāṇāṃ caratāṃ vane ||

Wika ni Yama: “Ang mga nilalang na gumagala sa gabi ay naglilibot dito nang masigla, ngunit mararahas ang pananalita. At sa gubat na ito’y naririnig ang kaluskos ng mga dahon, na nayayanig ng mga paa ng mga usang pagala-gala.”

नक्तंचराःnight-rangers (nocturnal beings)
नक्तंचराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनक्तंचर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नरन्तिthey lead / they carry on (their activity)
नरन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootनृ
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
एतेthese
एते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हृष्टाःdelighted, exhilarated
हृष्टाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहृष्ट
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
क्रूराभिभाषिणःspeaking harshly / of cruel speech
क्रूराभिभाषिणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootक्रूराभिभाषिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
श्रूयन्तेare heard
श्रूयन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada, Passive (impersonal sense)
पर्णशब्दाःleaf-sounds, rustlings of leaves
पर्णशब्दाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपर्णशब्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मृगाणाम्of the deer
मृगाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमृग
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
चरताम्of (those) moving about / roaming
चरताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootचर
FormPresent active participle, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
वनेin the forest
वने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular

यम उवाच

यम (Yama)
नक्तंचराः (night-roamers)
मृग (deer/wild animals)
वन (forest)
पर्ण (leaves)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights discernment in uncertain surroundings: harsh speech and unsettling sounds are signs that call for alertness and self-control. Ethically, it contrasts inner steadiness with the cruelty and agitation suggested by “harsh-tongued” night-roamers.

Yama describes the immediate forest atmosphere: nocturnal beings are roaming nearby, and the rustle of leaves—caused by deer moving through the woods—can be heard, creating a tense, watchful setting.