Shloka 35

धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः

Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue

Devanagari script

ददर्शाप्सरसं साक्षाद्‌ घृताचीमाप्लुतामृषि: । रूपयौवनसम्पन्नां मददृप्तां मदालसाम्‌

Transliteration

dadārśāpsarasaṃ sākṣād ghṛtācīm āplutām ṛṣiḥ | rūpayauvanasampannāṃ madadṛptāṃ madālasām ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଋଷି ନିଜ ଚକ୍ଷୁରେ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ଉଠିଥିବା ଅପ୍ସରା ଘୃତାଚୀଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିଲେ। ସେ ରୂପ-ଯୌବନରେ ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ; ଯୌବନଗର୍ବର ମଦରେ ମତ୍ତା ପରି, ମଦାଳସ ଭାବେ ଦିଶୁଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• ददर्श: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अप्सरसम्: an apsaras (celestial nymph)
• अप्सरसम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• साक्षात्: directly, before (his) eyes
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात्

• घृताचीम्: Ghṛtācī
• घृताचीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृताची
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आप्लुताम्: bathed, having plunged (in water)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्लुत
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रूपयौवनसम्पन्नाम्: endowed with beauty and youth
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप-यौवन-सम्पन्न
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मददृप्ताम्: intoxicated, puffed up with pride/drunkenness
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद-दृप्त
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मदालसाम्: languid from intoxication
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद-आलस
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Ghṛtācī
• Ṛṣi (the sage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical vulnerability of the mind: sensory contact can awaken desire even in one committed to austerity. It implicitly points to the need for vigilance (saṃyama) and discernment when encountering alluring objects, since a single moment of unguarded perception may lead to consequential actions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a sage seeing the apsaras Ghṛtācī immediately after her bath. Her beauty and youthful pride are emphasized, establishing the circumstance that triggers desire in the observer and sets the stage for the ensuing episode and its outcomes.