Jarītā-Śārṅgaka-saṃvādaḥ — The Dialogue of Jaritā and the Śārṅgaka Chicks
Fire-escape deliberation
विवेशान्त:पुरं तूर्ण रत्नैरुच्चावचै: शुभै: । यथोपजोष॑ सर्वश्ष जनश्रिक्रीड भारत
vaiśampāyana uvāca | viveśāntaḥpuraṃ tūṇaṃ ratnair uccāvacaiḥ śubhaiḥ | yathopajoṣaṃ sarvaśaḥ janaśrīkrīḍa bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Para wanita di antahpura segera memasuki balai hiburan, sambil membawa permata-permata bertuah yang indah dan beraneka jenis; lalu, wahai Bhārata, semuanya bersuka ria menurut kesukaan masing-masing. Pemandangan itu menegaskan kemakmuran diraja dan keseronokan yang halus, namun tetap dibingkai oleh adab—kesenangan yang dicari dalam batas kewajaran dan tertib masyarakat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The passage highlights that enjoyment and luxury, when kept within the boundaries of propriety (maryādā) and social discipline, can coexist with order. It implicitly contrasts regulated pleasure with indulgence that violates dharma.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the women of the royal inner quarters enter the pleasure-pavilion swiftly, adorned with or carrying various auspicious jewels, and everyone begins recreation according to personal taste—setting a scene of festive royal leisure.