Shloka 21
Mātali’s Proposal for Guṇakeśī and Sumukha’s Audience with Indra
प्रणिधानेन धैर्येण रूपेण वयसा च मे । मन: प्रविष्टो देवर्षे गुणकेश्या: पतिर्वर:
praṇidhānena dhairyeṇa rūpeṇa vayasā ca me | manaḥ praviṣṭo devarṣe guṇakeśyāḥ patir varaḥ ||
Kaṇva nói: “Bạch devarṣi, nhờ sự chuyên chú một lòng, lòng can đảm vững bền, dung mạo khả ái và sức sống tuổi trẻ, chàng đã đi vào lòng ta. Bạch devarṣi, chàng thật là người chồng xứng đáng và ưu tú nhất cho Guṇakeśī.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a dharmic criterion for judging suitability: inner discipline (praṇidhāna) and steadfastness (dhairya) are placed alongside outward qualities like appearance and youth. Ethical approval is grounded in perceived virtue and fitness for responsibility, not merely attraction.
Kaṇva addresses a devarṣi and expresses his personal conviction that a particular man has won his heart through notable qualities. On that basis, Kaṇva declares him the best and most appropriate husband for Guṇakeśī.