Shloka 158
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
नातिहस्वा न महती नीलोत्पलसुगन्धिनी । पद्मायताक्षी सुश्रोणी स्वसिताज्चितमूर्थजा,वह न तो बहुत छोटी थी और न बहुत बड़ी ही। उसके अंगोंसे नीलकमलकी सुगन्ध फैलती रहती थी। उसके नेत्र कमलदलके समान सुन्दर और विशाल थे, नितम्बभाग बड़ा ही मनोहर था और उसके काले-काले घूँघराले बालोंका सौन्दर्य भी अद्भुत था
nātihasvā na mahatī nīlotpalasugandhinī | padmāyatākṣī suśroṇī svasitāś citamūrdhajā ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ela não era nem demasiado baixa nem demasiado alta. Uma fragrância semelhante à do lótus azul parecia emanar de seus membros. Seus olhos eram grandes e belos como pétalas de lótus; seus quadris, graciosos; e seus cabelos escuros e encaracolados, de beleza notável.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it reflects the epic’s use of auspicious bodily features (lakṣaṇas) to signal refinement, attractiveness, and social ideals. Ethically, it shows how narrative literature encodes cultural values—here, the courtly ideal of balanced stature, lotus-like fragrance and eyes, and well-kept appearance.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing a woman’s appearance in detail—her stature, fragrance, eyes, hips, complexion, and hair—using conventional poetic comparisons (especially lotus imagery) to portray her as exceptionally beautiful and auspicious.