Shloka 253
Śānti-parva Adhyāya 30: Nārada–Parvata Samaya-bhaṅga, Śāpa, and the Marriage of Sukumārī
संद्रक्ष्यन्ति नरा श्चान्ये स्वरूपेण विनाकृतम् । 'प्रभो! यह सुकुमारी आपकी भार्या होगी
saṃdrakṣyanti narāś cānye svarūpeṇa vinākṛtam |
“Other people too will behold you as one whose true form is obscured—your natural appearance will not be seen as it is.” (In the narrative context: although the maiden is certainly destined to be your wife, after the marriage her perception and that of others will shift so that your face will appear monkey-like, as though a disguise has covered your real form.)
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of outward perception: society may judge by an altered or obscured appearance rather than by one’s true nature (svarūpa). Ethically, it cautions against mistaking external form for inner reality.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa speaks of how others will perceive someone’s appearance as concealed or transformed, aligning with the surrounding narrative idea that after marriage the maiden and others will see the man’s face as monkey-like, as though his real form has been covered.