Shloka 24
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
कदम्बतरुषण्डैश्व दिव्यैर्मुगगणैरपि । दिव्यै: पक्षिगणैश्वैव शुशुभे श्वेतपर्वत:,वहाँ कहीं फूलोंसे भरे हुए कल्पवृक्षके वन और कहीं कनेरके कानन सुशोभित होते थे। कहीं पारिजातके वन थे तो कहीं जपा और अशोकके उपवन शोभा पाते थे। कहीं कदम्ब नामक वृक्षोंके समूह लहलहा रहे थे तो कहीं दिव्य मृगगण विचर रहे थे। सब ओर दिव्य पक्षियोंके समुदाय कलरव कर रहे थे। इन सबसे उस श्वेत पर्वतकी शोभा बहुत बढ़ गयी थी
kadambataruṣaṇḍaiś ca divyair mṛgagaṇair api | divyaiḥ pakṣigaṇaiś caiva śuśubhe śvetaparvataḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “The White Mountain shone resplendent—adorned with clusters of kadamba trees, frequented by celestial herds of deer, and filled everywhere with flocks of divine birds. Their presence and sweet calls heightened the mountain’s beauty on all sides.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily conveys a contemplative value: sacred places are portrayed as harmoniously ordered, where divine life (animals and birds) and flourishing nature reflect purity and auspiciousness, encouraging reverence and inward calm rather than conflict.
Mārkaṇḍeya is describing the Śvetaparvata as a wondrous landscape—kadamba groves, celestial herds of animals, and divine birds—emphasizing the mountain’s extraordinary beauty and sanctity.