Shloka 18
Kurukṣetra–Samantapañcaka Māhātmya: King Kuru’s Ploughing and Indra’s Boon (प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिः समन्तपञ्चकं)
सा रात्रावभवद् राजं॑स्तरुणी वरवर्णिनी । दिव्याभरणवत्त्रा च दिव्यगन्धानुलेपना,राजन! रात्रिमें वह दिव्य वस्त्राभूषणोंसे विभूषित और दिव्य गन्धयुक्त अंगरागसे अलंकृत परम सुन्दरी तरुणी हो गयी
sā rātrāv abhavad rājan taruṇī varavarṇinī | divyābharaṇavattrā ca divyagandhānulepanā ||
రాజా! రాత్రివేళ ఆమె ఉత్తమ వర్ణముగల యౌవనవతిగా మారింది—దివ్య వస్త్రాభరణాలతో విభూషితమై, దివ్య సుగంధ అనులేపనంతో అలంకృతమై।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring contrast between outer appearance and inner reality: divine adornment and beauty can arise suddenly and powerfully, yet such splendor is often narrative surface—inviting discernment rather than attachment to mere externals.
The narrator describes a woman undergoing a striking change during the night: she appears as a youthful, exceptionally beautiful maiden, richly dressed with celestial ornaments and perfumed with a divine fragrance.