Shloka 20
अध्याय १ — न्यग्रोधवनोपवेशनम् तथा द्रौणिनिश्चयः
Night at the Banyan and Drauṇi’s Resolve
नानातोयै: समाकीर्ण नानापुष्पोपशोभितम् । पद्मिनीशतसंछन्नं नीलोत्पलसमायुतम्
nānātoyaiḥ samākīrṇaṃ nānāpuṣpopaśobhitam | padminīśatasaṃchannaṃ nīlotpalasamāyutam ||
वह वन नाना प्रकार के जलाशयों से यत्र-तत्र भरा था और विविध पुष्पों से सुशोभित था। उसके सरोवरों में शत-शत पद्मिनियाँ छाई थीं; रक्तकमल और असंख्य नीलोत्पल सर्वत्र फैले हुए थे।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse offers no direct injunction; its ethical force lies in contrast—peaceful, life-filled nature is depicted immediately before/around acts born of rage and adharma, sharpening the reader’s awareness of how violence desecrates a world that is intrinsically beautiful and ordered.
Sañjaya is painting a vivid setting: a region with many water-bodies and abundant blossoms, where lotus-ponds are covered with lotuses and blue water-lilies. This descriptive passage prepares the atmosphere for the events of the Sauptika episode.