Shloka 16
ययाति-देवयानी-शर्मिष्ठा विवादः — Śukra’s Curse and the Disclosure of Lineage
ददर्श राजा तां तत्र कन्यामग्निशिखामिव । तामपृच्छत् स दृष्टवैव कन्याममरवर्णिनीम्,वहाँ उन्हें अग्नि-शिखाके समान तेजस्विनी एक कन्या दिखायी दी, जो देवांगनाके समान सुन्दरी थी। उसपर दृष्टि पड़ते ही राजाने उससे पूछा
dadarśa rājā tāṃ tatra kanyām agniśikhām iva | tām apṛcchat sa dṛṣṭvaiva kanyām amaravarṇinīm ||
Vaiśampāyana said: There the king beheld a maiden, radiant like a tongue of fire, and beautiful as a celestial nymph. The moment his eyes fell upon her, he questioned her—drawn by wonder at her divine-like appearance.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment and respectful inquiry: when confronted with extraordinary beauty and power (symbolized by fire-like radiance), a ruler should respond not with impulse but with attentive questioning, seeking to understand the person and situation before acting.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a king arrives at a place where he sees a maiden shining like a flame and resembling a celestial in beauty; immediately upon seeing her, he addresses her with questions.