Shloka 31
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
भोगोपचारान् विविधान् सौभाग्यं चाप्यनुत्तमम् । पान पिब महाभागे भोगैश्चानुत्तमै: शुभै:
bhogopacārān vividhān saubhāgyaṃ cāpy anuttamam | pānaṃ piba mahābhāge bhogaiś cānuttamaiḥ śubhaiḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Tamasahin mo ang sari-saring luho at ang di-mapapantayang magandang kapalarang dumating sa iyo. O babaeng lubhang mapalad, inumin mo ang piling mga inumin at makibahagi sa mga pinakamainam at mapagpalang kaluguran. Ang sukdulang ganda mo’y nasasayang sa kasalukuyang kalagayan; gaya ng isang maringal at mapalad na kuwintas ng bulaklak na hindi naisusuot sa leeg ninuman kaya’t hindi nagliliwanag—gayundin ikaw, bagaman mapalad at maningning, ay hindi lubos na nagiging marilag hangga’t hindi ka nagiging ‘garland’ ng isang minamahal.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between sensual indulgence and restraint: it depicts a persuasive invitation to pleasure that treats beauty and fortune as things to be ‘used,’ thereby implicitly raising questions about objectification, self-control, and dharma in a courtly setting.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a scene in which a woman is being urged to enjoy luxurious comforts and fine drinks; the speaker flatters her beauty and uses the metaphor of an unworn garland to suggest her attractiveness is ‘wasted’ unless she becomes someone’s adornment.