Shloka 15
Raivataka-giri Mahotsava and the Counsel on Subhadrā’s Marriage (रैवतके महोत्सवः — सुभद्राविवाहोपायविचारः)
सर्वरेतैर्मदैर्मत्तावन्योन्यं भ्रुकुटीकृतौ । (तौ कटाक्षेण दैत्येन्द्रावाकर्षति मुहुर्मुहु: । दक्षिणेन कटाक्षेण सुन्दं जग्राह कामिनी ।। वामेनैव कटाक्षेण उपसुन्द जिघृक्षती । गन्धाभरणरूपैस्तौ व्यामोहं जग्मतुस्तदा ।।) मदकामसमाविष्टौ परस्परमथोचतु:,इन सभी मदोंसे उन्मत्त होनेके कारण आपसमें ही एक-दूसरेपर उनकी भौंहें तन गयीं। तिलोत्तमा कटाक्षद्वारा उन दोनों दैत्यराजोंको बार-बार अपनी ओर आकृष्ट कर रही थी। उस कामिनीने अपने दाहिने कटाक्षसे सुन्दको आकृष्ट कर लिया और बायें कटाक्षसे वह उपसुन्दको वशमें करनेकी चेष्टा करने लगी। उसकी दिव्य सुगन्ध, आभूषणराशि तथा रूपसम्पत्तिसे वे दोनों दैत्य तत्काल मोहित हो गये। उनमें मद और कामका आवेश हो गया; अतः वे एक-दूसरेसे इस प्रकार बोले--
sarva-retair madair mattāv anyonyaṁ bhru-kuṭī-kṛtau | (tau kaṭākṣeṇa daityendrāv ākarṣati muhur muhuḥ | dakṣiṇena kaṭākṣeṇa sundaṁ jagrāha kāminī || vāmenaiva kaṭākṣeṇa upasundaṁ jighṛkṣatī | gandhābharaṇa-rūpais tau vyāmohaṁ jagmatus tadā ||) mada-kāma-samāviṣṭau parasparam athocatuḥ |
Nārada said: Intoxicated by every kind of pride and passion, the two turned their brows upon each other in mutual hostility. Tilottamā, by repeated sidelong glances, kept drawing both demon-kings toward herself again and again. With a glance from the right she seized Sunda’s attention, and with a glance from the left she sought to captivate Upasunda. Bewildered at once by her fragrance, ornaments, and beauty, the pair fell into delusion. Overpowered by intoxication and desire, they then spoke to one another—
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked desire (kāma) and pride/intoxication (mada) cloud judgment (vyāmoha), turning allies into rivals. The passage highlights an ethical warning: when the mind is ruled by passion and ego, discernment collapses and violence becomes likely—often leading to one’s own ruin.
Nārada describes how Tilottamā repeatedly attracts both demon-brothers, Sunda and Upasunda, with sidelong glances—right glance toward Sunda, left toward Upasunda. Enchanted by her fragrance, ornaments, and beauty, they become infatuated and jealous, frown at each other, and begin speaking in a way that foreshadows their quarrel.