Shloka 21
Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)
सर्वतः संवृतानुच्चै: प्राकारैः सुकृतैः सितै: । सुवर्णजालसंवीतान् मणिकुट्टिम भूषितान्
sarvataḥ saṃvṛtān uccaiḥ prākāraiḥ sukṛtaiḥ sitaiḥ | suvarṇajālasaṃvītān maṇikuṭṭima-bhūṣitān ||
ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಅವು ಎಲ್ಲ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಎತ್ತರವಾದ, ಸುಸಂಯೋಜಿತ, ಶುಭ್ರ ಪ್ರಾಕಾರಗಳಿಂದ ಆವರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದವು. ಸ್ವರ್ಣಜಾಲಿಕಾಕಾರ್ಯದಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು, ಅವುಗಳ ಅಂಗಳಗಳ ನೆಲ ಮಣಿ-ರತ್ನ ಜಡಿತ ಕುತ್ತಿಮದಿಂದ ವಿಭೂಷಿತವಾಗಿತ್ತು—ರಾಜಸಮೃದ್ಧಿಯ ಕ್ರಮಬದ್ಧ ವೈಭವದಂತೆ.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the visible signs of orderly kingship—security (ramparts), refinement (gold latticework), and prosperity (gem-inlaid pavements). In the Sabha context, such splendor also foreshadows how wealth and display can become instruments of political power and temptation.
Vaiśampāyana is describing magnificent royal buildings/complexes: they are surrounded by high, well-built white walls, ornamented with gold latticework, and their courtyards have gem-inlaid mosaic pavements.