Shloka 23
Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)
हंसेन्दुवर्णसदूशानायोजनसुदर्शनान् । असम्बाधान् समद्वारान् युतानुच्चावचैर्गुणै:
haṃsenduvarṇasadṛśān āyojanasudarśanān | asambādhān samadvārān yutān uccāvacair guṇaiḥ ||
Waiśaṃpāyana berkata—rumah-rumah tamu itu putih laksana angsa dan rembulan, begitu mencolok hingga tampak dari jarak satu yojana. Luas, tanpa sesak atau sempit; pintu-pintunya seragam dan tertata baik; dan tiap hunian diperlengkapi dengan beragam keunggulan—kenyamanan dan sarana—demi menyambut tamu dengan martabat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of hospitality and orderly governance: public spaces meant for guests should be clean, accessible, spacious, and well-provisioned, reflecting a ruler’s responsibility to provide comfort and dignity to visitors.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing the impressive guest-houses—bright white, visible from afar, spacious, uniformly designed, and richly equipped—emphasizing the grandeur and careful arrangement of the royal setting.