Shloka 17

Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)

Devanagari script

अतीवरूपिणी कि त्वमनजड्राड्रविहारिणी । अतीव भ्राजसे सुभ्रु प्रभेवेन्दोरनुत्तमा

Transliteration

atīvarūpiṇī ki tvaṁ anajaḍrāḍravihāriṇī | atīva bhrājase subhru prabhevendōranuttamā

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Siapakah engkau—terlalu indah, bergerak dengan lemah lembut tanpa ragu, bebas dan tenang? Wahai yang beralis elok, engkau bersinar terang dengan cahaya laksana bulan—tiada bandingannya.”

Word by Word

अतीवरूपिणीof exceedingly beautiful form

किम्what?/indeed (interrogative particle)

त्वम्you

अनजड्राड्रविहारिणीone who moves about in the non-dull mountain-forest (i.e., lively/active wanderer of the hills)

अतीवexceedingly, very much

भ्राजसेyou shine

सुभ्रुO fair-browed one

प्रभेवlike a radiance

इन्दोःof the moon

अनुत्तमाunsurpassed, best

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights discernment and respectful speech: extraordinary presence should be met with attentive inquiry and dignified praise, not rash judgment. It models a cultured response—recognizing excellence while seeking identity and context before acting.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Virāṭa Parva, during the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito period, a speaker (as narrated by Vaiśampāyana) addresses a woman whose appearance and bearing seem exceptional. The line expresses astonishment and admiration, comparing her radiance to the moon and asking who she is.