Shloka 35

Adhyāya 325: Nārada in Śvetadvīpa—Stotra to the Nirguṇa Mahātman

Devanagari script

स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिण्यो रूपेणाप्सरसां समा: | कामोपचारकुशला भावज्ञा: सर्वकोविदा:

Transliteration

smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇyo rūpeṇāpsarasāṃ samāḥ | kāmopacārakuśalā bhāvajñāḥ sarvakovidāḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Họ cất lời với nụ cười đã sẵn trên môi; về nhan sắc, họ sánh ngang các Apsaras. Tinh thông những phép tắc phụng sự ái tình, họ hiểu rõ tâm trạng và ý hướng của người đối diện, và thành thạo mọi điều tinh tế.”

Word by Word

• स्मितपूर्व: preceded by a smile
• स्मितपूर्व: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित-पूर्व
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• अभिभाषिण्यः: speaking (addressing) (others)
• अभिभाषिण्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिभाषिन् (स्त्री. अभिभाषिणी)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• रूपेण: by beauty / in appearance
• रूपेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अप्सरसाम्: of the Apsarases
• अप्सरसाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• समाः: equal (to)
• समाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• कामोपचारकुशलाः: skilled in amorous attentions
• कामोपचारकुशलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-उपचार-कुशल
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• भावज्ञाः: knowing feelings/intentions
• भावज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावज्ञ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वकोविदाः: expert in everything
• सर्वकोविदाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-कोविद
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Apsarases

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how refined charm and emotional intelligence can be used to influence others; ethically, it points to the need for vigilance and self-mastery so that one is not led away from dharma by allure and calculated attentiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a group of women characterized by captivating beauty, smiling speech, and skill in pleasing conduct—emphasizing their ability to read emotions and act expertly, typically in a context warning about seduction or the power of sensual attraction.