Shloka 3
Kailāsa-darśana, Badarī-vāsa, and Sarasvatī–Dvaitavana Transition (कैलासदर्शन–बदरीवास–सरस्वतीद्वैतवनगमनम्)
गोपुराट्टालकोपेतं चतुर्द्धारं दुरासदम् सर्वरत्नमयं दिव्यमद्भुतोपमदर्शनम्,उस नगरमें ऊँचे-ऊँचे गोपुरोंसहित सुन्दर अट्ठटालिकायें सुशोभित थीं। उसमें चारों दिशाओंमें एक-एक करके चार फाटक लगे थे। शत्रुओंके लिये उस नगरमें प्रवेश पाना अत्यन्त कठिन था। सब प्रकारके रत्नोंसे निर्मित वह दिव्य नगर अद्भुत दिखायी देता था
Arjuna uvāca: gopurāṭṭālakopetaṃ caturdvāraṃ durāsadam | sarvaratnamayaṃ divyam adbhutopamadārśanam ||
Arjuna disse: “Aquela cidade era adornada por altas torres de portal e por belas mansões de muitos andares. Tinha quatro portas, uma em cada direção, e era dificílima de ser penetrada por inimigos. Como se fosse talhada de toda espécie de joias, aquela cidade divina parecia radiante e maravilhosa—sua simples visão era comparável a um prodígio.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how external grandeur—fortifications, ordered gates, and jewel-like splendor—signals political strength and security, yet also invites reflection that worldly power is impressive but ultimately a surface appearance within the larger moral narrative of the Mahābhārata.
Arjuna is describing a magnificent, well-defended city: it has towering gate-structures, multi-storied buildings, four directional gates, and a dazzling, gem-like radiance that makes it seem wondrous to behold.