Shloka 3
Adhyāya 125: Raṅga-pradarśana — Arjuna’s Entry and Astric Demonstration (रङ्गप्रदर्शनम्)
पलाशैस्तिलकैश्षूतैश्वम्पकैः पारिभद्रकै: । अन्यैश्न बहुभिव॑क्षे: फलपुष्पसमृद्धिभि:,पलाश, तिलक, आम, चम्पा, पारिभद्रक तथा और भी बहुत-से वृक्ष फल-फूलोंकी समृद्धिसे भरे हुए थे, जो उस वनकी शोभा बढ़ा रहे थे। नाना प्रकारके जलाशयों तथा कमलोंसे सुशोभित उस वनकी मनोहर छटा देखकर राजा पाण्डुके मनमें कामका संचार हो गया
palāśais tilakaiḥ śūtaiś campakaiḥ pāribhadrakaiḥ | anyaiś ca bahubhir vṛkṣaiḥ phala-puṣpa-samṛddhibhiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: A floresta estava adornada com palāśa, tilaka, mangueiras, campaka e árvores semelhantes ao pārijāta, além de muitas outras, carregadas de frutos e flores abundantes, que realçavam a beleza do bosque. Ao ver aquele arvoredo encantador—ornado de variadas lagoas e tanques de lótus—o ânimo do rei Pāṇḍu foi agitado pelo desejo.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sensory beauty can inflame desire, introducing an ethical challenge: a ruler must govern impulses with restraint (dama) and discernment (viveka), since unchecked kāma can lead to harmful consequences.
Vaiśampāyana describes a luxuriant forest filled with flowering and fruit-bearing trees, ponds, and lotuses. The scene’s beauty excites King Pāṇḍu’s desire, preparing the narrative for the ensuing events driven by that arousal.