Shloka 23
आदि पर्व — अध्याय १०६
Pāṇḍu’s Gifts, Forest Residence, and Vidura’s Marriage
सा तु रूपं च गन्धं च महर्षे: प्रविचिन्त्य तम् । नाकरोदू वचन देव्या भयात् सुरसुतोपमा,परंतु देवकन्याके समान सुन्दरी अम्बिकाने महर्षिके उस कुत्सित रूप और गन्धका चिन्तन करके भयके मारे देवी सत्यवतीकी आज्ञा नहीं मानी
sā tu rūpaṃ ca gandhaṃ ca maharṣeḥ pravicintya tam | nākarod eva vacanaṃ devyā bhayāt surasutopamā ||
But Ambikā—lovely as a celestial maiden—brooded on the sage’s repulsive appearance and odor; and out of fear she did not carry out Queen Satyavatī’s command.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fear and disgust can derail dharma: when one fixates on external unpleasantness, one may fail to fulfill a rightful responsibility meant for a greater good (here, the continuation of the Kuru line).
Ambikā, summoned by Satyavatī to approach the sage Vyāsa for begetting an heir, becomes frightened after contemplating his harsh appearance and odor, and therefore does not comply with Satyavatī’s instruction.