Shloka 4
Vivāha-dharma: Kanyā-pradāna, Śulka, and Pāṇigrahaṇa-niṣṭhā (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४४)
रुचिं च रुचिरापाजड़ीं पीनश्रोणिपयोधराम् । पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षीं सम्पूर्णेन्दुनिभाननाम्
ruciṃ ca rucirāpāṅgīṃ pīnaśroṇipayodharām | padmapatraviśālākṣīṃ sampūrṇendunibhānanām ||
Maka tampaklah Ruci—elok dalam lirikan sampingnya, berhias pinggul yang penuh dan dada yang ranum; bermata lebar laksana kelopak teratai yang mekar, dan berwajah bagaikan bulan purnama.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive, using standard poetic similes (lotus-eyes, moon-face) to signal auspicious presence and to characterize Ruci’s appearance; it does not directly state a moral rule, but reflects epic aesthetics where beauty is a narrative indicator of prominence and fortune.
Bhishma describes the appearance of a woman named Ruci, portraying her with conventional markers of beauty—graceful sidelong glances, full form, lotus-like large eyes, and a face like the full moon—indicating that she is seen seated/appearing before the observer in the scene.