Adhyaya 1 — Jaimini’s Questions on the Mahabharata and the Origin of the Wise Birds
रम्भा वा कर्कशा वाथ उर्वश्यथ तिलोत्तमा ।
घृताची मेनका वापि यत्र वा भवतो रुचिः ॥
rambhā vā karkaśā vātha urvaśy atha tilottamā |
ghṛtācī menakā vāpi yatra vā bhavato ruciḥ ||
رمبھا یا کرکشا، یا پھر اُروشی یا تِلوتمہ؛ یا گھرتاچی یا میناکاہ—ان میں سے جو تمہیں پسند ہو اُسے چن لو۔
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The verse illustrates a conventional purāṇic motif of offering what is ‘according to one’s ruci’ (preference). Ethically, it can be read as a lesson in attentive hospitality—addressing a guest’s disposition rather than imposing one’s own choice—while also hinting at the need for discernment regarding sense-pleasures when they appear as options.
This verse is not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṁśa/vaṁśānucarita. It belongs to the frame-dialogue scaffolding that supports later pancalakṣaṇa material; functionally it is part of the narrative setting rather than a pancalakṣaṇa unit.
Apsarās often symbolize refined temptations of the mind (saṃskāra-driven attraction). The line ‘yatra vā bhavato ruciḥ’ can be read inwardly: the seeker’s attention gravitates toward what it habitually delights in; thus the verse subtly points to the spiritual work of mastering ruci (taste/attraction) rather than being led by it.