Shloka 45

Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)

Devanagari script

श्यामा पद्मपलाशाक्षी नीलकुज्चितमूर्थजा । ताम्रतुज़्नखी सुभ्रूश्षारूपीनपयोधरा,उसके शरीरकी कान्ति श्याम थी। नेत्र ऐसे जान पड़ते मानो खिले हुए कमलके दल हों। केश काले-काले और घुँघराले थे। नख उभरे हुए और लाल रंगके थे। भौंहें बड़ी सुन्दर थीं। दोनों उरोज स्थूल और मनोहर थे

Transliteration

śyāmā padmapalāśākṣī nīlakuñcitamūrdhajā | tāmratuṅganakhī subhrūḥ sā rūpiṇī payodharā ||

Translation

Disse o brāhmaṇa: “Sua compleição era escura. Seus olhos pareciam as pétalas de um lótus em plena floração. Seus cabelos eram negros e encaracolados. Suas unhas eram salientes e de um vermelho acobreado. Suas sobrancelhas tinham um traço primoroso, e seus seios eram fartos e agradáveis.”

Word by Word

श्यामाdark-complexioned

पद्मपलाशाक्षीshe whose eyes are like lotus-petals

नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजाshe whose head-hair is black and curly

ताम्रतुङ्गनखीshe whose nails are reddish and prominent

सुभ्रूःhaving beautiful eyebrows

शुभरूपिणीof auspicious/beautiful form

अपयोधराshe whose breasts are full/beautiful

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

ब्राह्मण (a brāhmaṇa narrator/speaker)

a woman described (unnamed in this verse)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse itself is primarily descriptive, but in the Mahābhārata such idealized physical portrayal often functions as a narrative trigger: it can illuminate how sensory attraction arises and thereby sets the stage for ethical testing—whether one remains governed by dharma and restraint or is led by fascination and desire.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brāhmaṇa speaker is describing a woman’s appearance in detail—complexion, eyes, hair, nails, eyebrows, and breasts—using conventional Sanskrit poetic compounds. This kind of portrait typically introduces or intensifies a situation where the listener’s response to beauty becomes significant for the unfolding story.