Shloka 17
Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival
ता देवरानुत सखीन् सिषिचुर्दृतीभि: क्लिन्नाम्बरा विवृतगात्रकुचोरुमध्या: । औत्सुक्यमुक्तकवराच्च्यवमानमाल्या: क्षोभं दधुर्मलधियां रुचिरैर्विहारै: ॥ १७ ॥
tā devarān uta sakhīn siṣicur dṛtībhiḥ klinnāmbarā vivṛta-gātra-kucoru-madhyāḥ autsukya-mukta-kavarāc cyavamāna-mālyāḥ kṣobhaṁ dadhur mala-dhiyāṁ rucirair vihāraiḥ
Alors les reines aspergèrent d’eau, à l’aide de seringues, leurs beaux-frères et d’autres compagnons. Leurs propres vêtements, trempés, laissaient paraître bras, seins, cuisses et taille. Dans l’enthousiasme, les guirlandes glissèrent de leurs tresses dénouées; par ces jeux charmants, elles troublèrent ceux dont la conscience était souillée.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “Such behavior between pure males and females is enjoyable, but persons who are materially contaminated become lustful.”
FAQs
This verse says the women’s charming play stirred agitation specifically in “mala-dhiyām”—those whose minds are impure—implying that inner purity determines whether beauty leads to disturbance or not.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates events at King Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya sacrifice, describing the royal and celestial ladies playfully sprinkling one another with water within the festive assembly.
It teaches that external sights are not the only issue—purifying the mind through devotion, discipline, and remembrance of the Lord reduces agitation and supports steady self-control.