Shloka 32
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
अलंकृतामाभरणैर्विरजो<म्बरसंवृताम् । दृष्टपूर्वामपि स तां नाभ्यजानात् स शान्तनु:,गंगा दिव्य आभूषणोंसे अलंकृत हो स्वच्छ सुन्दर साड़ी पहने हुई थीं। इससे उनका अनुपम सौन्दर्य इतना बढ़ गया था कि पहलेकी देखी होनेपर भी राजा शान्तनु उन्हें पहचान न सके
alaṅkṛtām ābharaṇair virajo' mbarasaṃvṛtām | dṛṣṭapūrvām api sa tāṃ nābhyajānāt sa śāntanuḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Adornada con joyas divinas y cubierta con vestiduras inmaculadas y radiantes, su hermosura se había transfigurado tanto que el rey Śāntanu—aunque la había visto antes—no la reconoció.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the limits of human perception: external changes—splendor, attire, ornamentation—can obscure true identity. Ethically, it cautions against judging reality solely by appearance and suggests attentiveness to essence over surface.
Gaṅgā appears before King Śāntanu richly adorned and clothed in spotless garments. Her beauty is so enhanced that Śāntanu, despite having seen her earlier, fails to recognize her.