Shloka 3
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 ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Hutan itu dihiasi pokok palāśa, tilaka, mangga, campaka, dan pokok seumpama pārijāta, serta banyak lagi pokok lain yang sarat buah dan bunga, menambah seri rimba. Melihat belukar yang mempesona itu—dengan pelbagai takungan air dan kolam teratai—hati Raja Pāṇḍu pun digerakkan oleh nafsu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.