Shloka 32
Gaṅgādvāra-tīrtha, Ulūpī-saṃvāda, and Arjuna’s Dharma-Deliberation (गङ्गाद्वार-तीर्थम्, उलूपी-संवादः)
द्विपक्षगरुडप्रख्यैद्वरि: सौधैश्न शोभितम् । गुप्तम भ्रचयप्रख्यैगो पुरैर्मन्दरोपमै:,उस नगरके दरवाजे ऐसे जान पड़ते थे, मानो दो पाँख फैलाये गरुड़ हों। ऐसे अनेक बड़े-बड़े फाटक और अट्टालिकाएँ उस नगरकी श्रीवृद्धि कर रही थीं। मेघोंकी घटाके समान सुशोभित तथा मन्दराचलके समान ऊँचे गोपुरोंद्वारा वह नगर सब ओरसे सुरक्षित था
dvipakṣa-garuḍa-prakhyair dvāraiḥ saudhaiś ca śobhitam | guptam abhra-caya-prakhyaiḥ gopuraiḥ mandara-upamaiḥ ||
Wika ni Vāyu-deva: “Ang lungsod na iyon ay pinalamutian ng mga tarangkahang wari’y mga Garuḍang nakabuka ang dalawang pakpak. Maraming malalaking pintuan at matatayog na palasyo ang nagdagdag sa ningning nito. Sa lahat ng panig ay binabantayan ng naglalakihang gopura—madilim at siksik na parang kumpol ng ulap, at kasingtaas ng Bundok Mandara—kaya’t ang lungsod ay matibay na napangangalagaan.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of a well-ordered realm: beauty is paired with security. Splendor (śobhā) is not mere luxury; it is supported by protection (gupti) and careful civic design, suggesting responsible governance.
Vāyu-deva is describing a magnificent, strongly fortified city. He emphasizes its grand gateways, palatial buildings, and towering gopuras, using vivid similes—Garuḍa’s spread wings, cloud-banks, and Mount Mandara—to convey both majesty and impregnability.