Kailāsa-darśana, Badarī-vāsa, and Sarasvatī–Dvaitavana Transition (कैलासदर्शन–बदरीवास–सरस्वतीद्वैतवनगमनम्)
तदहं प्रेक्ष्य दैत्यानां पुरमद्भुतदर्शनम् अपृच्छे मातलिं राजन् किमिदं वर्तते5द्भुतम्,राजन! दैत्योंके उस अद्भुत दिखायी देनेवाले नगरको देखकर मैंने मातलिसे पूछा --'सारथे! यह कौन-सा अद्भुत नगर है?”
tad ahaṃ prekṣya daityānāṃ puram adbhuta-darśanam apṛcche mātaliṃ rājan kim idaṃ vartate 'dbhutam
เมื่อเห็นนครอันน่าพิศวงของเหล่าไทตยะ ข้าพเจ้าจึงทูลถามมาตลีว่า “ข้าแต่พระราชา นี่คือสิ่งอัศจรรย์ใดที่ปรากฏอยู่เบื้องหน้า?”
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined curiosity: when confronted with a dazzling and potentially deceptive spectacle, Arjuna does not rush to judgment but seeks clarification from a knowledgeable guide (Mātali).
Arjuna beholds a marvelous city belonging to the Daityas and, addressing the listener as ‘O king,’ asks Mātali what this astonishing place is and why it appears.