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Shloka 7

Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)

प्रलोभनार्थ तस्याथ प्राहिणोत्‌ पाकशासन: । दिव्यामप्सरसं पुण्यां दर्शनीयामलम्बुषाम्‌,तब इन्द्रने मुनिको लुभानेके लिये एक पवित्र दर्शनीय एवं दिव्य अप्सरा भेजी, जिसका नाम था अलम्बुषा

pralobhanārthaṃ tasyātha prāhiṇot pākaśāsanaḥ | divyām apsarasaṃ puṇyāṃ darśanīyām alambuṣām ||

Daraufhin sandte Pākaśāsana (Indra), um ihn zu verführen, die göttliche Apsaras Alambuṣā—rein und von betörender Schönheit. Die Begebenheit zeigt, dass selbst erhabene Wesen Verlockung als Mittel einsetzen, um die Festigkeit von Selbstbeherrschung und Entschlusskraft zu prüfen.

प्रलोभनार्थम्for the purpose of enticing
प्रलोभनार्थम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रलोभनार्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तस्यof him
तस्य:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
प्राहिणोत्sent forth
प्राहिणोत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-हि (√हि)
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
पाकशासनःIndra (the chastiser of Pāka)
पाकशासनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाकशासन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दिव्याम्divine
दिव्याम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदिव्य
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अप्सरसम्apsaras (celestial nymph)
अप्सरसम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअप्सरस्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
पुण्याम्holy, virtuous
पुण्याम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपुण्य
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
दर्शनीयाम्lovely to behold
दर्शनीयाम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदर्शनीय
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अलम्बुषाम्Alambuṣā (name of the apsaras)
अलम्बुषाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअलम्बुषा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
I
Indra (Pākaśāsana)
A
Alambuṣā (apsaras)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical theme of temptation as a deliberate test: external allure can be used to unsettle a person’s resolve, so inner discipline and clarity of purpose are crucial for maintaining virtue.

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Indra, intending to entice a certain person, sends the celestial nymph Alambuṣā, described as divine, auspicious, and strikingly beautiful.