Shloka 18
एनं हि पर्युपासन्ते बहुधा वरयोषित: । क्रीडन्तमिव गन्धर्व देवकन्या: सहस्रश:,जैसे क्रीडा करते हुए गन्धर्वके साथ सहस्रों देवकन्याएँ होती हैं, उसी प्रकार इस विविंशतिकी सेवामें बहुत-सी सुन्दरी स्त्रियाँ रहा करती थीं
enaṁ hi paryupāsante bahudhā varayoṣitaḥ | krīḍantam iva gandharvaṁ devakanyāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Many excellent women attended upon him in various ways, just as thousands of celestial maidens surround a Gandharva as he sports. The verse paints a picture of lavish service and allure, hinting at the courtly culture of pleasure and display that stands in stark contrast to the grief and moral reckoning that pervade the Strī-parvan after the war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is descriptive rather than prescriptive: it highlights the atmosphere of indulgent attendance and sensual splendor. In the ethical frame of the Strī-parvan, such imagery can function as a foil—reminding the listener how worldly pleasure and status can be overturned by the catastrophic consequences of adharma and war.
Vaiśampāyana describes a man being constantly attended by many beautiful women, comparing the scene to celestial maidens surrounding a Gandharva at play. It emphasizes the scale and glamour of his entourage and the manner of service rendered to him.