Shloka 20

Adhyāya 168: Arjuna’s counters to māyā-rains and the onset of darkness

Nivātakavaca engagement

Devanagari script

अनु तस्यापरं भूतं महत्‌ कैरातसंस्थितम्‌ । भधनुर्बाणासिमत्‌ प्राप्तं सत्रीगणानुगतं तदा

Transliteration

anu tasyāparaṃ bhūtaṃ mahat kairātasaṃsthitam | dhanurbāṇāsimat prāptaṃ strīgaṇānugataṃ tadā ||

Translation

随后紧随其后，出现了一位伟大之存在，化作基罗多（山地猎人）的形貌。他佩弓与箭，又带着剑；当时还有一群女子随侍其侧。

Word by Word

• अनु: after, following
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु

• तस्य: of him/that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• अपरम्: another, next
• अपरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• भूतम्: being, creature; apparition
• भूतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• महत्: great, huge
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• कैरात: Kirāta (mountain-hunter)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: कैरात
• Form: masculine, stem (in compound), singular

• संस्थितम्: standing/placed; having the appearance/form
• संस्थितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (past participle)
• Root: संस्था (धातु: स्था) / संस्थित
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• बाण: arrows
• बाण: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• असि: sword
• असि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• मत्: possessing (having)
• मत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (possessive suffix)
• Root: मत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• प्राप्तम्: come/arrived; obtained; encountered
• प्राप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (past participle)
• Root: प्राप् (धातु) / प्राप्त
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• स्त्री: women
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री
• Form: feminine, stem (in compound), plural (sense)

• गण: group, troop
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण
• Form: masculine, stem (in compound), singular

• अनुगतम्: followed/attended by
• अनुगतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (past participle)
• Root: अनुगम् (धातु) / अनुगत
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• तदा: then, at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Kirāta (hunter guise)
• a great being (bhūta/mahat)
• bow (dhanus)
• arrows (bāṇāḥ)
• sword (asi)
• company of women (strīgaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores discernment (viveka) in dharma: extraordinary powers may appear in humble or deceptive forms, and a hero must judge by conduct and context rather than outward appearance. In the forest setting, the encounter also signals that strength and weapons should be governed by restraint and right understanding.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna reports seeing, behind the first figure, a mighty being who looks like a Kirāta hunter, armed with bow, arrows, and sword, and accompanied by a group of women. This description sets up a significant confrontation/meeting where a divine presence is approached through a worldly, forest-hunter guise.