Shloka 46
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
मन्मथाभिपरीतात्मा नापश्यद् गिरिकां तदा । अपश्यन् कामसंतप्तश्नरमाणो यदृच्छया
manmathābhiparītātmā nāpaśyad girikāṁ tadā | apaśyan kāmasaṁtaptas caramāṇo yadṛcchayā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dikuasai Manmatha, dewa asmara, pada saat itu baginda tidak melihat Girikā. Tidak melihatnya, dan hangus oleh api keinginan, baginda pun merayau ke sana sini, menurut haluan yang ditentukan kebetulan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked desire can dominate the mind, cloud perception, and drive restless, purposeless action—an implicit ethical warning about the need for self-control.
The king, inflamed by passion (as if seized by Manmatha), fails to find or see Queen Girikā and, distressed by desire, roams about aimlessly.