Shloka 23

तत्र चागत्य चाण्डालो हारण्ये कृतकेतन: । प्रयोजयति चोन्माथं नित्यमस्तंगते रवौ

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

Bhīṣma nói: Ở đó, một người Caṇḍāla đến và dựng chỗ ở trong khu rừng ấy. Mỗi ngày, khi mặt trời đã lặn, hắn đến nơi đó giăng bẫy, buộc các dây đúng vị trí; rồi trở về nhà ngủ yên. Đến sáng, hắn lại quay trở lại.

तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
आगत्यhaving come
आगत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-गम्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)
चाण्डालःa caṇḍāla (outcaste)
चाण्डालः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootचाण्डाल
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
हारण्येin the forest-region
हारण्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहारण्य
Formneuter, locative, singular
कृतकेतनःhaving made a dwelling; with a built abode
कृतकेतनः:
TypeAdjective
Rootकृत-केतन
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
प्रयोजयतिsets in motion; employs; spreads
प्रयोजयति:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-युज्
Formpresent, indicative, parasmaipada, third, singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
उन्माथम्a snare/net-trap (device for catching)
उन्माथम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootउन्माथ
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
नित्यम्always; daily
नित्यम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य
अस्तंगतेwhen (it is) set; at sunset
अस्तंगते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअस्तं-गत
Formmasculine, locative, singular
रवौin/when the sun
रवौ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरवि
Formmasculine, locative, singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
C
Caṇḍāla
F
forest (āraṇya)
S
sun (ravi)
S
snare/trap (unmātha)
D
dwelling/house (ketana)

Educational Q&A

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.

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.