Mahabharata 3.112.2 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 112, Shloka 2
Adhyāya 112: Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s Description of an Exemplary Brahmacārī
Ascetic Presence and Vow-Practice
समृद्धरूप: सवितेव दीप्त: सुश्लक्षणकृष्णाक्षिरतीव गौर: । नील: प्रसन्नाश्न॒ जटा: सुगन्धा हिरण्यरज्जुग्रथिता: सुदीर्घा:
samṛddharūpaḥ saviteva dīptaḥ suślakṣaṇakṛṣṇākṣir atīva gauraḥ | nīlaḥ prasannāś ca jaṭāḥ sugandhā hiraṇyarajjugrathitāḥ sudīrghāḥ ||
Ришьяшринга продолжал: «Облик его был великолепен, он сиял, как солнце. Глаза — ясные, мягкие, с тёмными ресницами; сам он казался необычайно светлокожим. Его джаты были очень длинны, опрятны, с синеватым отливом и источали сладкое благоухание; и все они были переплетены золотым шнуром».
ऋष्यशुड्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the traditional Mahābhārata motif that inner merit and disciplined life are mirrored by auspicious external signs—radiance, clarity of eyes, and the ascetic’s jaṭā—suggesting a person of purity, restraint, and dharmic stature.
The speaker (Ṛśyaśṛṅga) is describing a figure’s striking appearance in vivid, auspicious imagery—sun-like radiance, fair complexion, and long fragrant matted locks braided with a golden cord—setting the tone for recognizing the person as extraordinary.
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