Adhyāya 118: Saciva-parīkṣā
Testing and Appointment of Ministers/Servants
ततः: कमलषण्डानि शललकीगहनानि च । व्यचरत् स मुदायुक्तः पद्मरेणुविभूषित:,तदनन्तर वह हाथी कमलोंके परागसे विभूषित और आनन्दित हो कमलसमूहों तथा शल्लकी लताकी झाड़ियोंमें विचरने लगा
tataḥ kamalaṣaṇḍāni śalalakīgahanāni ca | vyacarat sa mudāyuktaḥ padmareṇuvibhūṣitaḥ ||
Rồi con voi ấy, mình vương phấn hoa sen và lòng tràn hoan hỷ, thong dong dạo bước giữa những bụi sen và xuyên qua những lùm dây leo śalalakī rậm rạp.
भीष्म उवाच
Through a tranquil natural image—an elephant joyfully roaming among lotuses—the passage suggests the value of serenity and harmony with one’s proper environment, implicitly contrasting peaceful contentment with agitated, desire-driven wandering.
Bhishma describes an elephant that, dusted with lotus pollen, happily moves about amid lotus clusters and dense creeper thickets, painting a vivid scene of carefree roaming in a lotus-filled landscape.