Shloka 4
Raivataka-giri Mahotsava and the Counsel on Subhadrā’s Marriage (रैवतके महोत्सवः — सुभद्राविवाहोपायविचारः)
स्त्रीभिमल्यैश्व गन्धैश्व भक्ष्यभोज्यै: सुपुष्कलै: । पानैश्न विविधै््द्यै: परां प्रीतिमवापतु:,सुन्दरी स्त्रियों, मनोहर मालाओं, भाँति-भाँतिके सुगन्ध-द्रव्यों, पर्याप्त भोजन- सामग्रियों तथा मनको प्रिय लगनेवाले अनेक प्रकारके पेय रसोंका सेवन करके वे बड़े आनन्दसे दिन बिताने लगे
strībhiḥ mālyaiś ca gandhaiś ca bhakṣyabhojyaiḥ supuṣkalaiḥ | pānaiś ca vividhair divyaiḥ parāṃ prītim avāpatuḥ ||
Narada said: “Surrounded by beautiful women, garlands, and perfumes, and enjoying abundant delicacies and meals along with many kinds of delightful, almost heavenly, drinks, they passed their days at the height of pleasure. The verse portrays a life absorbed in sensual indulgence, implicitly contrasted with dharma and self-restraint.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse portrays intense enjoyment of sensual pleasures—companionship, adornment, fragrance, rich food, and drink—serving as a narrative marker of indulgence. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical horizon, such pleasure is not condemned in isolation, but it becomes problematic when it eclipses restraint, duty, and long-term righteousness (dharma).
Nārada describes a period in which the subjects being spoken about (expressed in the dual ‘they’) spend their time in lavish comfort, surrounded by women, garlands, perfumes, abundant foods, and varied drinks, attaining great delight.