अध्याय ४६ — सभाप्रवेशः तथा सञ्जयस्य दूतवृत्तान्तः
Entry into the Royal Assembly and Sañjaya’s Envoy Report
सुधावदातां विस्तीर्णा कनकाजिरभूषिताम् । चन्द्रप्रभां सुरुचिरां सिक्तां चन्दनवारिणा
sudhāvadātāṁ vistīrṇāṁ kanakājirabhūṣitām | candraprabhāṁ surucirāṁ siktāṁ candanavāriṇā ||
সেই রাজসভা চুনে লেপা শুভ্রতার ন্যায় দীপ্ত ও বিস্তৃত ছিল, স্বর্ণময় প্রাঙ্গণে ভূষিত; চন্দ্রপ্রভাসম উজ্জ্বল, অতিশয় মনোহর, এবং চন্দনমিশ্রিত জলে সিঞ্চিত।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse foregrounds the ethical ideal of giving audience to dharma-aligned counsel: even amid political tension, rulers and elders should be willing to hear what is righteous and beneficial (dharma-artha), in a setting that reflects order, purity, and restraint.
The narrator describes the splendid, moon-bright assembly hall—whitewashed, gold-adorned, and sprinkled with sandalwater—into which Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the Kauravas enter with the intention of hearing the Pāṇḍavas’ dharmic and purposeful statements.