Shloka 66
Śoka-śamana: Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation and Nārada’s Exempla to Sṛñjaya
Chapter 29
सर्वा रथगता: कन्या रथा: सर्वे चतुर्युजः । शतं शतं रथे नागा: पद्मिनो हेममालिन:,“वे सभी कन्याएँ अलग-अलग रथमें बैठी हुई थीं। प्रत्येक रथमें चार-चार घोड़े जुते हुए थे। हर एक रथके पीछे सोनेकी मालाओंसे विभूषित तथा मस्तकपर कमलके चिह्लोंसे अलंकृत सौ-सौ हाथी थे
sarvā rathagatāḥ kanyā rathāḥ sarve caturyujaḥ | śataṃ śataṃ rathe nāgāḥ padmino hemamālinaḥ ||
Vāyu berkata: “Semua gadis itu duduk di atas kereta. Setiap kereta ditarik oleh empat ekor kuda. Dan di belakang tiap kereta berjalan seratus gajah jenis ‘Padmin’, berkalungkan emas dan bertanda lambang teratai di kepala mereka.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily offers descriptive narration rather than direct moral instruction; implicitly, it highlights the cultural ideal of auspicious order and royal magnificence—where prosperity and careful arrangement (well-yoked chariots, auspiciously marked elephants) signify legitimacy, status, and the outward signs of a well-governed realm.
Vāyudeva describes a grand procession: maidens seated in separate chariots, each chariot drawn by four horses, and each accompanied by a large retinue of auspicious ‘Padmin’ elephants adorned with golden garlands and lotus emblems.