Shloka 12
Pāṇḍu’s Marriages, Conquests, and Triumphal Return (पाण्डोर्विवाह-विजय-प्रत्यागमनम्)
मत्स्यगन्धो महानासीत् पुरा मम जुगुप्सित: । तमपास्य शुभं गन्धमिमं प्रादात् स मे मुनि:,“यद्यपि मैं चाहती नहीं थी, तो भी उन्होंने मुझ अबलाको अपने तेजसे तिरस्कृत करके नौकापर ही मुझे अपने वशमें कर लिया। उस समय उन्होंने कुहरा उत्पन्न करके सम्पूर्ण लोकको अन्धकारसे आवृत कर दिया था। भारत! पहले मेरे शरीरसे अत्यन्त घृणित मछलीकी-सी बड़ी तीव्र दुर्गन्ध आती थी। उसको मिटाकर मुनिने मुझे यह उत्तम गन्ध प्रदान की थी
vaiśampāyana uvāca | matsyagandho mahān āsīt purā mama jugupsitaḥ | tam apāsya śubhaṃ gandham imaṃ prādāt sa me muniḥ |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Noong una, kumakapit sa akin ang matapang na amoy-isda na aking kinasusuklaman. Inalis iyon ng pantas at ipinagkaloob sa akin ang mapalad na halimuyak na ito.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ascetic power can radically alter outward conditions (here, bodily odor and thus social perception), while the broader episode invites ethical reflection on power imbalance—supernatural ‘boons’ may accompany coercive acts, and dharma requires scrutiny of means, not only outcomes.
A young woman recounts that she previously had an intense fishy odor; a sage removed that repulsive smell and granted her a pleasant fragrance. This occurs within the well-known episode where the sage approaches her on a boat and uses his power to conceal the scene.