Shloka 36
धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Sañjaya on Arjuna’s Indraloka report and the political consequences
वैशम्पायन उवाच तां तथा ब्रुव्तीं श्रुत्वा भृश॑ लज्जा5<वृतोडर्जुन: । उवाच कर्णाो हस्ताभ्यां पिधाय त्रिदशालये,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! स्वर्गलोकमें उर्वशीकी यह बात सुनकर अर्जुन अत्यन्त लज्जासे गड़ गये और हाथोंसे दोनों कान मूँदकर बोले--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tāṃ tathā bruvantīṃ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ lajjā-vṛto 'rjunaḥ | uvāca karṇau hastābhyāṃ pidhāya tridaśālaye ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing Urvaśī speaking in that manner, Arjuna was overwhelmed with intense shame. In the abode of the gods, he covered his ears with both hands and spoke—signaling his refusal to entertain words that violated his sense of propriety and self-restraint.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights lajjā (moral modesty) and saṃyama (self-restraint): even amid celestial allure, Arjuna maintains propriety and refuses to indulge in speech or proposals he deems improper, modeling ethical discipline as part of dharma.
In Svarga, after hearing Urvaśī’s words, Arjuna becomes deeply embarrassed. He covers his ears with both hands and then speaks, a dramatic gesture showing discomfort and rejection of what he has just heard.