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Shloka 3

Kailāsa-darśana, Badarī-vāsa, and Sarasvatī–Dvaitavana Transition (कैलासदर्शन–बदरीवास–सरस्वतीद्वैतवनगमनम्)

गोपुराट्टालकोपेतं चतुर्द्धारं दुरासदम्‌ सर्वरत्नमयं दिव्यमद्भुतोपमदर्शनम्‌,उस नगरमें ऊँचे-ऊँचे गोपुरोंसहित सुन्दर अट्ठटालिकायें सुशोभित थीं। उसमें चारों दिशाओंमें एक-एक करके चार फाटक लगे थे। शत्रुओंके लिये उस नगरमें प्रवेश पाना अत्यन्त कठिन था। सब प्रकारके रत्नोंसे निर्मित वह दिव्य नगर अद्भुत दिखायी देता था

Arjuna uvāca: gopurāṭṭālakopetaṃ caturdvāraṃ durāsadam | sarvaratnamayaṃ divyam adbhutopamadārśanam ||

Arjuna sprach: „Jene Stadt war geschmückt mit hohen Tortürmen und schönen, vielstöckigen Palästen. Sie besaß vier Tore, je eines in jeder Himmelsrichtung, und für Feinde war es überaus schwer, in sie einzudringen. Als wäre sie aus allen Arten von Edelsteinen geschaffen, erschien diese göttliche Stadt strahlend und wundersam—ihr bloßer Anblick glich einem Wunder.“

गोपुर-अट्टालक-उपेतम्endowed with gate-towers and lofty mansions
गोपुर-अट्टालक-उपेतम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootगोपुर + अट्टालक + उपेत (उप-इ √इ)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चतुर्द्वारम्having four gates
चतुर्द्वारम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootचतुर् + द्वार
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
दुरासदम्hard to approach/assail
दुरासदम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर् + आसद (आ-√सद्)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सर्व-रत्न-मयम्made of all kinds of gems
सर्व-रत्न-मयम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व + रत्न + मय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
दिव्यम्divine, splendid
दिव्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदिव्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अद्भुत-उपम-दर्शनम्having a wondrous, incomparable appearance
अद्भुत-उपम-दर्शनम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअद्भुत + उपम + दर्शन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
A
a city (nagara)
G
gopura (gateway-towers)
A
aṭṭālaka (multi-storied mansions)
F
four gates (caturdvāra)
G
gems/jewels (ratna)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how external grandeur—fortifications, ordered gates, and jewel-like splendor—signals political strength and security, yet also invites reflection that worldly power is impressive but ultimately a surface appearance within the larger moral narrative of the Mahābhārata.

Arjuna is describing a magnificent, well-defended city: it has towering gate-structures, multi-storied buildings, four directional gates, and a dazzling, gem-like radiance that makes it seem wondrous to behold.