Shloka 14
Arjuna Honored in Indra’s Court; Lomāśa’s Audience; Indra’s Disclosure of Lineage and Mission
Book 3, Chapter 45
'सुन्दरी! जो अपने स्वाभाविक सदगुण, श्री, शील (स्वभाव), मनोहर रूप, उत्तम व्रत और इन्द्रियसंयमके कारण देवताओं तथा मनुष्योंमें विख्यात हैं। बल और पराक्रमके द्वारा जिनकी सर्वत्र प्रसिद्धि है; जो सबके प्रिय, प्रतिभाशाली, वर्चस्वी, तेजस्वी, क्षमाशील तथा ईर्ष्यारहित हैं, जिन्होंने छहों अंगोंसहित चारों वेदों, उपनिषदों और पंचम वेद (इतिहास- पुराण)-का अध्ययन किया है। जिन्हें गुरुशुश्रूषा तथा आठ गुणोंसे- युक्त मेधाशक्ति प्राप्त है, जो ब्रह्मचर्यपालन, कार्य-दक्षता, संतान तथा युवावस्थाके द्वारा अकेले ही देवराज इन्द्रकी भाँति स्वर्गलोककी रक्षा करनेमें समर्थ हैं, जो अपने मुँहसे अपने गुणोंकी कभी प्रशंसा नहीं करते, दूसरोंको सम्मान देते, अत्यन्त सूक्ष्म विषयको भी स्थूलकी भाँति शीघ्र ही समझ लेते और सबसे प्रिय वचन बोलते हैं, जो अपने सुहृदोंके लिये नाना प्रकारके अन्न-पानकी वर्षा करते और सदा सत्य बोलते हैं, जिनका सर्वत्र आदर होता है, जो अच्छे वक्ता तथा मनोहर रूपवाले होकर भी अहंकारशून्य हैं, जिनके हृदयमें अपने प्रेमी भक्तोंके लिये अत्यन्त कृपा भरी हुई है, जो कान्तिमान्, प्रिय तथा प्रतिज्ञापालन एवं युद्धमें स्थिरतापूर्वक डटे रहनेवाले हैं, जिनके सदगुणोंकी दूसरे लोग स्पृहा रखते हैं और उन्हीं गुणोंके कारण जो महेन्द्र और वरुणके समान आदरणीय माने जाते हैं, उन वीरवर अर्जुनको तुम अच्छी तरह जानती हो। उन्हें स्वर्गमें आनेका फल अवश्य मिलना चाहिये। तुम देवराजकी आज्ञाके अनुसार आज अर्जुनके चरणोंके समीप जाओ। कल्याणि! तुम ऐसा प्रयत्न करो, जिससे कुन्तीकुमार धनंजय तुमपर प्रसन्न हों” ।। एवमुक्ता स्मितं कृत्वा सम्मान बहु मन््य च | प्रत्युवाचोर्वशी प्रीता चित्रसेनमनिन्दिता,चित्रसेनके ऐसा कहनेपर उर्वशीके अधरोंपर मुसकान दौड़ गयी। उसने इस आदेशको अपने लिये बड़ा सम्मान समझा। अनिन्द्य सुन्दरी उर्वशी उस समय अत्यन्त प्रसन्न होकर चित्रसेनसे इस प्रकार बोली--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | “sundari! yaḥ svābhāvika-sadguṇa-śrī-śīla-manohara-rūpa-uttama-vrata-indriya-saṃyama-kāraṇād devatāsu manuṣyeṣu ca vikhyātaḥ; bala-parākrama-kṛtā sarvatrāpi yasya kīrtiḥ; yaḥ sarva-priyaḥ pratibhāvān varcasvī tejasvī kṣamāvān anasūyakaḥ; yaḥ ṣaḍ-aṅgaiḥ saha caturṇāṃ vedānām upaniṣadāṃ ca pañcama-veda-bhūtasya itihāsa-purāṇasya ca adhyayanaṃ kṛtavān; yaḥ guru-śuśrūṣayā aṣṭa-guṇaiś ca yuktāṃ medhā-śaktiṃ prāptaḥ; yaḥ brahmacarya-pālanena kārya-dakṣatayā santānena yuvāvasthayā caika eva devarāja-indra iva svarga-loka-rakṣaṇe samarthaḥ; yaḥ svamukhena svaguṇān na kadācit praśaṃsati, anyān satkṛtya sūkṣmam api viṣayaṃ sthūlavad āśu pratipadyate, sarvebhyaḥ priya-vākyaṃ ca vadati; yaḥ suhṛdāṃ kṛte nānā-vidha-annapāna-varṣaṃ karoti satya-vādī ca; yaḥ sarvatra satkṛtaḥ, subhāṣitā ca manohara-rūpavān api nirahaṅkāraḥ; yasya hṛdaye prema-bhakteṣu atyanta-kṛpā; yaḥ kāntimān priyaḥ pratijñā-pālakaḥ yuddhe ca sthiraḥ; yasya sadguṇān anye spṛhayanti, taiḥ sadguṇaiḥ sa mahendra-varuṇa-samo mānyaḥ; taṃ vīra-varaṃ arjunaṃ tvaṃ sujānāsi. tasya svarga-prāpti-phalaṃ niyataṃ bhavitum arhati. devarājasyājñayā adya tvam arjunasya caraṇa-samīpaṃ gaccha. kalyāṇi! tathā yatnaṃ kuru yena kuntī-kumāro dhanañjayas tvayi prasīdati.” || evam uktā smitaṃ kṛtvā sammānaṃ bahu manyamānā pratyuvāca urvaśī prītā citrasenam aninditā |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Fair one! You know Arjuna well—the hero renowned among gods and men for his innate virtues: prosperity, noble character, pleasing beauty, excellent vows, and mastery over the senses. His fame, born of strength and valor, is everywhere. He is beloved by all, gifted, radiant in influence, brilliant, patient, and free from envy. He has studied the four Vedas together with their six auxiliaries, the Upaniṣads, and the ‘fifth Veda’—the Itihāsa and Purāṇa. Through service to his teachers and the eightfold excellences, he has attained keen intelligence. By his celibate discipline, efficiency in action, the vigor of youth, and the strength of lineage, he is able—like Indra himself—to safeguard the realm of heaven. He never praises his own qualities; he honors others, grasps even subtle matters swiftly as though they were obvious, and speaks words dear to everyone. For his friends he provides abundant food and drink, and he always speaks truth. He is respected everywhere; though eloquent and handsome, he is without pride. His heart is filled with compassion toward those who love him devotedly. He is radiant, dear, faithful to his vows, and steadfast in battle. Others long for his virtues, and by those virtues he is honored like Mahendra and Varuṇa. Such a man deserves the reward of coming to heaven. Therefore, by the command of the king of the gods, go today to Arjuna’s feet. Auspicious one, strive so that Dhanañjaya, Kuntī’s son, may be pleased with you.” When Citrasena spoke thus, Urvaśī’s lips curved into a smile. Taking the command as a great honor, the blameless beauty Urvaśī, delighted, replied to Citrasena as follows.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage presents an ethical ideal of kingship and heroism: true greatness combines valor with self-restraint, learning, humility, truthfulness, compassion, and fidelity to vows. Fame is shown as legitimate when grounded in disciplined virtue rather than self-praise.
Citrasena, speaking within Vaiśampāyana’s narration, extols Arjuna’s qualities and instructs the apsaras Urvaśī—by Indra’s command—to approach Arjuna respectfully in heaven. Urvaśī smiles, feels honored, and prepares to respond.