Shloka 32
Varuṇābhiṣeka–Agni-anveṣaṇa–Kaubera-tīrtha
Varuṇa’s Consecration; Search for Agni; Kaubera Sacred Site
सबला मधुराश्चैव यौवनस्था: स्वलंकृता: । माहात्म्येन च संयुक्ता: कामरूपधरास्तथा
sabalā madhurāś caiva yauvanasthāḥ svalaṅkṛtāḥ | māhātmyena ca saṃyuktāḥ kāmarūpadharās tathā, bharatanandana |
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Wahai kebanggaan kaum Bharata, mereka beraneka warna dan mempesona, berada pada kemuncak usia muda serta berhias dengan perhiasan mereka sendiri. Dikurniai kuasa luar biasa dan kebesaran, mereka mampu mengambil apa jua rupa yang mereka kehendaki.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethical caution about appearances: beauty, youth, and adornment can accompany extraordinary powers, so discernment is needed rather than being led by outward charm.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a group of beings (women/figures) as beautiful, youthful, ornamented, and possessed of great power, emphasizing their ability to change form at will, while addressing the listener as ‘bharatanandana’.