Shloka 5
मयेन सभानिर्माणम्
Maya’s Construction of the Assembly Hall
मन: प्रह्लादिनीं चित्रां सर्वरत्नविभूषिताम् । अस्ति बिन्दुसरस्युग्रा गदा च कुरुनन्दन,“जो सब प्रकारके रत्नोंसे विभूषित, विचित्र एवं मनको आह्लाद प्रदान करनेवाली होगी। कुरुनन्दन! बिन्दुसरमें एक भयंकर गदा भी है
manaḥ prahlādinīṃ citrāṃ sarvaratnavibhūṣitām | asti bindusarasy ugrā gadā ca kurunandana |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Ada suatu benda yang menawan dan menggirangkan hati, dihiasi dengan segala jenis ratna. Dan, wahai keturunan Kuru, di tasik bernama Bindusaras juga tersimpan sebuah gada yang menggerunkan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dazzling wealth and splendid objects—including weapons—can captivate the mind, yet such power-laden possessions also carry the potential for fear and violence. It subtly frames material magnificence as ethically ambivalent: attractive in appearance, but capable of fueling conflict.
Vaiśampāyana continues a descriptive narration, pointing out an exquisite, jewel-adorned marvel and then mentioning a formidable mace located at the lake called Bindusaras, addressing the listener as ‘Kurunandana’.