Adhyāya 125: Raṅga-pradarśana — Arjuna’s Entry and Astric Demonstration (रङ्गप्रदर्शनम्)
पलाशैस्तिलकैश्षूतैश्वम्पकैः पारिभद्रकै: । अन्यैश्न बहुभिव॑क्षे: फलपुष्पसमृद्धिभि:
palāśais tilakaiḥ śūtaiś campakaiḥ pāribhadrakaiḥ | anyaiś ca bahubhir vṛkṣaiḥ phala-puṣpa-samṛddhibhiḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。――その森には、パラーシャ、ティラカ、マンゴー、チャンパカ、そしてパーリジャータにも似た木々が立ち並び、ほかにも果実と花に富む樹々が数多く、林の美をいよいよ高めていた。さまざまな水辺と蓮の池に飾られたその心地よい森を見て、パーンドゥ王の心には欲(カーマ)が揺り起こされた。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how sensory beauty can inflame desire, introducing an ethical challenge: a ruler must govern impulses with restraint (dama) and discernment (viveka), since unchecked kāma can lead to harmful consequences.
Vaiśampāyana describes a luxuriant forest filled with flowering and fruit-bearing trees, ponds, and lotuses. The scene’s beauty excites King Pāṇḍu’s desire, preparing the narrative for the ensuing events driven by that arousal.