Shloka 45
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
स्त्रियश्व विविधाकारा यान्ति रुद्रस्य पृष्ठत: । सृजन्त्य: पुष्पवर्षाणि चारुरूपा वराड़ना:,मनोहर रूप और भाँति-भाँतिकी आकृति धारण करनेवाली बहुत-सी सुन्दरी स्त्रियाँ फूलोंकी वर्षा करती हुई भगवान् रुद्रके पीछे-पीछे जा रही थीं
striyaś ca vividhākārā yānti rudrasya pṛṣṭhataḥ | sṛjantyaḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi cārurūpā varāṅganāḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Many beautiful women, assuming diverse forms, were moving behind Rudra, showering down cascades of flowers.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights bhakti expressed through respectful accompaniment and offerings: beauty, art, and celebration become acts of reverence when directed toward the divine.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes a divine procession in which many lovely women of varied forms follow behind Rudra, casting down showers of flowers as a sign of honor and auspicious celebration.