Shloka 18
सहदेवस्य गोसंख्य-तन्तिपाल-रूपेण विराट-समागमः | Sahadeva’s Audience with Virāṭa as Cattle-Enumerator
Tantipāla
केशान् जानाम्यहं कर्तु पिंषे साधु विलेपनम् । मल्लिकोत्पलपदडानां चम्पकानां तथा शुभे
keśān jānāmy ahaṃ kartuṃ piṃṣe sādhu vilepanam | mallikotpalapadāṇāṃ campakānāṃ tathā śubhe ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Aku mengetahui cara merias dan menata rambut, serta menumbuk dan menyiapkan lulur dan salep kosmetik yang halus. Wahai wanita berbudi mulia, aku pun tahu membuat wewangian dari bunga melati, teratai, dan campaka.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adaptability and humble service: even those of high birth and great capability may uphold dharma by taking up ordinary-seeming skills when circumstances demand, without pride, and by using their abilities to support others appropriately.
In the Virāṭa episode, a speaker describes proficiency in arranging hair and preparing fragrant cosmetic pastes from flowers like jasmine, lotus, and campaka—skills suited to service in the women’s quarters, fitting the broader context of living incognito and taking on roles that avoid detection.