Shloka 20

Kuvalāśva’s Lineage and Uttaṅka’s Petition concerning Dhundhu (धुन्धु-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

तत्‌ प्रविश्य राजा सह प्रियया सुधाकृतां विमलां सलिलपूर्णा वापीमपश्यत्‌,“उस मण्डपमें प्रियासहित प्रवेश करके राजाने सुधाके समान स्वच्छ जलसे परिपूर्ण वह बावली देखी

Transliteration

tat praviśya rājā saha priyayā sudhākṛtāṁ vimalāṁ salilapūrṇāṁ vāpīm apaśyat |

Translation

فلما دخل الملكُ ذلك الجناح مع محبوبته أبصر بئراً مدرّجةً مملوءةً بماءٍ صافٍ نقيّ، كأنه رحيقٌ سماوي.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (place/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• प्रियया: with (his) beloved
• प्रियया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया
• Form: feminine, instrumental, singular

• सुधा-कृताम्: made as if of nectar / nectar-like
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधाकृता
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• विमलाम्: spotless, clear
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमला
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• सलिल-पूर्णाम्: filled with water
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिलपूर्णा
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• वापीम्: a well/stepwell, pond
• वापीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• अपश्यत्: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), 3rd, singular, active

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• राजा (the king)
• प्रिया (the beloved/queen)
• मण्डप (pavilion)
• वापी (stepwell)
• सलिल (water)
• सुधा (nectar)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of attractive appearances—purity, abundance, and beauty—to captivate the mind. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such allure often precedes a test: one must respond with discernment (viveka) and restraint rather than being carried away by what merely seems perfect.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the king, accompanied by his beloved, enters a pavilion and sees a stepwell filled with exceptionally clear, nectar-like water. This description functions as a vivid setup for the next action and its consequences within the episode.