Shloka 1
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत उद्योगपर्वके अन्तर्गत भगवद्यानपर्वमें मातलिके द्वारा वरका खोजविषयक एक सौ तीनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ १०३ ॥। ऑपन-माज बछ। अकाल चतुर्राधिकशततमो< ध्याय: नारदजीका नागराज आर्यकके सम्मुख सुमुखके साथ मातलिकी कन्याके विवाहका प्रस्ताव एवं मातलिका नारदजी
nārada uvāca | sūto 'yaṃ mātaliḥ nāma śakrasya dayitaḥ suhṛt | śuciḥ śīla-guṇopetas tejasvī vīryavān balī ||
نارد نے کہا—اے ناگ راج! یہ ماتلی نامی ہے—شکر (اندرا) کا محبوب، اس کا معتمد دوست اور سارتھی۔ یہ پاکیزہ ہے، خوش خُلق اور اوصافِ حمیدہ سے آراستہ؛ رعب و جلال والا، شجاع اور طاقتور ہے۔
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical evaluation through virtues: purity, good conduct, and strength guided by character. Narada establishes Mātali’s credibility by listing moral and heroic qualities, implying that social proposals (like alliances and marriages in the surrounding narrative) should be grounded in proven virtue and trustworthy friendship.
Narada addresses the Nāga-king Aryaka and introduces Mātali, Indra’s charioteer and close friend, praising his virtues and prowess. This functions as a formal endorsement, preparing Aryaka to receive Mātali’s request/proposal in the ensuing episode.