Mahabharata 3.46.59 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 46, Shloka 59
धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Sañjaya on Arjuna’s Indraloka report and the political consequences
तेन नर्तनवेषेण अपुस्त्वेन तथैव च । वर्षमेकं विह्ृत्यैव ततः पुंस्त्वमवाप्स्यसि,“नर्तक वेष और नपुंसक भावसे एक वर्षतक इच्छानुसार विचरण करके तुम फिर अपना पुरुषत्व प्राप्त कर लोगे”
tena nartanaveṣeṇa apuṁstvena tathaiva ca | varṣam ekaṁ vihṛtyaiva tataḥ puṁstvaṁ avāpsyasi ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “By assuming that dancer’s disguise and that same condition of being a eunuch, roam as you wish for one full year; thereafter you will regain your manhood.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic ethic of accepting a time-bound hardship without violating one’s obligations: endurance and disciplined conduct through a prescribed period lead to restoration and rightful status.
The speaker states that the person addressed must live for one year in a dancer’s disguise and in a condition of non-manhood; after completing that year, the person will regain manhood—indicating a temporary, conditional affliction with a defined end.
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