Shloka 4
अध्याय ४६ — सभाप्रवेशः तथा सञ्जयस्य दूतवृत्तान्तः
Entry into the Royal Assembly and Sañjaya’s Envoy Report
सुधावदातां विस्तीर्णा कनकाजिरभूषिताम् । चन्द्रप्रभां सुरुचिरां सिक्तां चन्दनवारिणा
sudhāvadātāṁ vistīrṇāṁ kanakājirabhūṣitām | candraprabhāṁ surucirāṁ siktāṁ candanavāriṇā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Balairung diraja itu luas, putih berkilau seolah-olah baru disapu kapur, dihiasi halaman-halaman emas. Bersinar seperti cahaya bulan, amat indah dipandang, dan telah direnjis air berharum cendana. Ke dalam balairung yang gemilang itu, Dhṛtarāṣṭra dan para Kaurava pun masuk, ingin mendengar kata-kata para Pāṇḍava—kata-kata yang selaras dengan dharma serta menuju yang benar dan bermanfaat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical ideal of giving audience to dharma-aligned counsel: even amid political tension, rulers and elders should be willing to hear what is righteous and beneficial (dharma-artha), in a setting that reflects order, purity, and restraint.
The narrator describes the splendid, moon-bright assembly hall—whitewashed, gold-adorned, and sprinkled with sandalwater—into which Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the Kauravas enter with the intention of hearing the Pāṇḍavas’ dharmic and purposeful statements.