Shloka 29

Ādi-parva Adhyāya 98 — Paraśurāma’s kṣatriya suppression; Dīrghatamas, Bali, Sudēṣṇā, and the birth of Aṅga

Devanagari script

तां दृष्टवा हृष्टरोमा भूद्‌ विस्मितो रूपसम्पदा । पिबन्निव च नेत्राभ्यां नातृष्पत नराधिप:,उसे देखते ही राजा शान्तनुके शरीरमें रोमांच हो आया, वे उसकी रूप-सम्पत्तिसे आश्चर्यवकित हो उठे और दोनों नेत्रोंद्वारा उसकी सौन्दर्य-सुधाका पान करते हुए-से तृप्त नहीं होते थे

Transliteration

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭaromā bhūd vismito rūpasampadā | pibann iva ca netrābhyāṃ nātṛṣpat narādhipaḥ ||

Translation

Al verla, el cuerpo del rey se estremeció de júbilo; asombrado por la riqueza de su hermosura, el señor de los hombres no podía saciarse—como si bebiera su belleza con los propios ojos.

Word by Word

ताम्her

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

हृष्टरोमाone whose hairs stood on end (thrilled)

भूत्became

विस्मितःastonished

रूपसम्पदाby (her) beauty/wealth of form

पिबन्drinking

इवas if

चand

नेत्राभ्याम्with (his) two eyes

नnot

अतृष्पत्was not satisfied

नराधिपःthe king (lord of men)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śāntanu (narādhipaḥ, implied king in context)

the woman seen (Gaṅgā, in narrative context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the compelling force of sensory attraction: beauty perceived through the eyes can generate intense delight and attachment, which may influence judgment and lead to consequential vows or decisions—an ethical reminder to balance desire with discernment (viveka) and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Śāntanu sees a remarkable woman on the riverbank (Gaṅgā in context). Struck with wonder at her beauty, he experiences physical thrill and cannot feel satiated, as though he is ‘drinking’ her beauty with his eyes—marking the beginning of his fascination and ensuing relationship.