Shloka 20

अध्याय १८४ — भैक्षविभागः, शयनविधानम्, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य निवेदनम्

Alms Distribution, Night Lodging, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Report

Devanagari script

सुवर्णजालसंवीतैर्मणिकुट्टिम भूषणै: । सुखारोहणसोपानैर्महासनपरिच्छदै:,उन्हें भीतरसे सोनेके जालीदार पर्दों और झालरोंसे सजाया गया था। फर्श और दीवारोंमें मणि एवं रत्न जड़े गये थे। उत्तम सुखपूर्वक चढ़नेयोग्य सीढ़ियाँ बनी थीं। बड़े-बड़े आसन और बिछावन आदि बिछाये गये थे

Transliteration

suvarṇajālasaṃvītair maṇikuṭṭima-bhūṣaṇaiḥ | sukhārohaṇa-sopānair mahāsana-paricchadaiḥ ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ— ସେହି ପ୍ରାସାଦମାନଙ୍କ ଭିତର ଭାଗ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଜାଲିକାମ—ପର୍ଦ୍ଦା ଓ ଝାଲର—ଦ୍ୱାରା ସୁଶୋଭିତ ଥିଲା। ଭୂମି ଓ ଦିଵାରରେ ମଣି-ରତ୍ନ ଜଡାଯାଇଥିଲା। ଉପରକୁ ଯିବା ପାଇଁ ସୁଖଦ, ସହଜ ସୋପାନ ନିର୍ମିତ ଥିଲା; ମଣ୍ଡପମାନେ ଭବ୍ୟ ଆସନ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ଶୟନସାମଗ୍ରୀରେ ସଜ୍ଜିତ ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

सुवर्णजालसंवीतैःcovered/enclosed with golden netting

मणिकुट्टिमभूषणैःwith ornaments of gem-inlaid pavement

सुखारोहणसोपानैःwith stairways for comfortable ascent

महासनपरिच्छदैःwith furnishings (covers, spreads) for great seats/thrones

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

golden lattice curtains

festoons/garlands (decorative hangings)

gem-inlaid floors (maṇikuṭṭima)

stairways (sopāna)

great seats/thrones (mahāsana)

bedding/furnishings (paricchada)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily offers descriptive narration rather than direct moral instruction; implicitly, it contrasts the grandeur of royal arrangements with the broader epic’s concern that external magnificence does not guarantee inner dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes richly decorated interiors—golden lattice curtains, gem-inlaid surfaces, comfortable stairways, and abundant seating and bedding—depicting a palace or hall prepared in lavish detail.