Shloka 17

Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)

Devanagari script

अतीवरूपिणी कि त्वमनजड्राड्रविहारिणी । अतीव भ्राजसे सुभ्रु प्रभेवेन्दोरनुत्तमा

Transliteration

atīvarūpiṇī ki tvaṁ anajaḍrāḍravihāriṇī | atīva bhrājase subhru prabhevendōranuttamā

Translation

ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า— “โอ นางผู้เลอโฉมยิ่ง เจ้าเป็นใคร—ผู้ดำเนินไปอย่างเป็นธรรมชาติ ไร้ความลังเลและไร้ความกระดาก? โอ นางผู้มีคิ้วงาม เจ้าเปล่งประกายยิ่งนัก ดุจรัศมีจันทร์อันหาที่เปรียบมิได้.”

Word by Word

अतीवरूपिणीof exceedingly beautiful form

किम्what?/indeed (interrogative particle)

त्वम्you

अनजड्राड्रविहारिणीone who moves about in the non-dull mountain-forest (i.e., lively/active wanderer of the hills)

अतीवexceedingly, very much

भ्राजसेyou shine

सुभ्रुO fair-browed one

प्रभेवlike a radiance

इन्दोःof the moon

अनुत्तमाunsurpassed, best

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights discernment and respectful speech: extraordinary presence should be met with attentive inquiry and dignified praise, not rash judgment. It models a cultured response—recognizing excellence while seeking identity and context before acting.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Virāṭa Parva, during the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito period, a speaker (as narrated by Vaiśampāyana) addresses a woman whose appearance and bearing seem exceptional. The line expresses astonishment and admiration, comparing her radiance to the moon and asking who she is.