Mahabharata 4.7.4 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 7, Shloka 4
Ballava (Bhīma) Seeks Employment as Royal Cook in Virāṭa’s Court
तमापतत्तं प्रसमीक्ष्य पाण्डवं विराटराडिन्दुमिवा भ्रसंवृतम् । समागतं पूर्णशशिप्रभाननं महानुभावं न चिरेण दृष्टवान्
tam āpatattaṃ prasmīkṣya pāṇḍavaṃ virāṭarāḍ indum ivā bhrasaṃvṛtam | samāgataṃ pūrṇaśaśiprabhānanaṃ mahānubhāvaṃ na cireṇa dṛṣṭavān ||
ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਆਉਂਦੇ ਪਾਂਡਵ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਰਾਜਾ ਵਿਰਾਟ ਦੀ ਨਿਗਾਹ ਇਕਦਮ ਉਸ ਵੱਲ ਖਿੱਚੀ ਗਈ—ਜਿਵੇਂ ਬੱਦਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਢੱਕਿਆ ਚੰਦ ਵੀ ਚਮਕ ਉਠੇ। ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਮਹਾਨੁਭਾਵ ਨੇੜੇ ਆਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਮੁਖ ਪੂਰਨਿਮਾ ਦੇ ਚੰਦ ਵਾਂਗ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਮਾਨ ਸੀ; ਰਾਜੇ ਨੇ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਹੀ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਧਿਆਨ ਨਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਗੌਰ ਨਾਲ ਤੱਕਿਆ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how genuine greatness and inner nobility naturally attract attention and respect; even when circumstances obscure someone (like clouds veiling the moon), their inherent radiance is still perceived by the discerning.
King Virāṭa notices a Pāṇḍava approaching. The Pāṇḍava’s face is described as shining like the full moon, and Virāṭa’s gaze is immediately drawn to him; as he comes closer, the king looks at him carefully.
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