Shloka 14
Adhyāya 196: Droṇa’s Conciliatory Counsel and Karṇa’s Suspicion of Counsel (मन्त्र-नय-विवादः)
व्यास उवाच तां गच्छन्तीमन्वगच्छत् तदानीं सो<पश्यदारात् तरुणं दर्शनीयम् । सिद्धासनस्थं युवतीसहायं क्रीडन्तमैक्षद् गिरिराजमूर्थ्नि,व्यासजी कहते हैं--राजन्! यों कहकर आगे-आगे जाती हुई उस स्त्रीके पीछे-पीछे उस समय इन्द्र भी गये। गिरिराज हिमालयके शिखरपर पहुँचकर उन्होंने देखा--पास ही एक परम सुन्दर तरुण पुरुष सिद्धासनसे बैठे हैं, उनके साथ एक युवती भी है। इन्द्रने उस युवतीके साथ उन्हें क्रीड़ा-विनोद करते देखा
vyāsa uvāca | tāṁ gacchantīm anvagacchat tadānīṁ so 'paśyad ārāt taruṇaṁ darśanīyam | siddhāsanasthaṁ yuvatī-sahāyaṁ krīḍantam aikṣad girirāja-mūrdhni |
Vyāsa dijo: Oh rey, después de hablar así, aquella mujer siguió adelante, e Indra la siguió muy de cerca. Al llegar a la cumbre del rey de las montañas, el Himālaya, vio allí cerca a un joven de gran hermosura, sentado en la postura de siddhāsana, con una joven como compañera. Indra observó a ambos entregados a un juego alegre y placentero.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how appearances can be ethically ambiguous: yogic posture and outward composure (siddhāsana) may coexist with sensual play (krīḍā). In Mahābhārata narratives, such juxtapositions often introduce tests of self-control, discernment, and the need to judge conduct by inner intention and dharmic consistency rather than by external signs.
After the woman proceeds ahead, Indra follows her. On reaching the summit of the Himālaya, he sees a handsome young man seated in siddhāsana with a young woman companion, and he observes them engaged in playful sport. This sight sets the stage for the next development—typically an inquiry, recognition, or a test involving divine and human/ascetic figures.