Shloka 36

Devanagari script

सेव्यमानो वरस्त्रीणां चन्द्रात्‌ कान्ततरैर्मुखै: । मेखलानां निनादेन नूपुराणां च निः:स्वनै:

Transliteration

sevyamāno varastrīṇāṃ candrāt kāntatarair mukhaiḥ | mekhalānāṃ ninādena nūpurāṇāṃ ca niḥsvanaiḥ ||

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：他受上妙天女侍奉礼敬，她们的面容比月更为光艳；其间又响起腰带的叮当与脚铃清越的鸣声。

Word by Word

• सेव्यमानः: being served/attended
• सेव्यमानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव्य (√सेव्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वरस्त्रीणाम्: of excellent women
• वरस्त्रीणाम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरस्त्री
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• चन्द्रात्: than the moon/from the moon
• चन्द्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• कान्ततरैः: more lovely (with)
• कान्ततरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्ततर (कान्त + तर)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• मुखैः: with faces
• मुखैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• मेखलानाम्: of girdles
• मेखलानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेखला
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• निनादेन: with the sound/jingling
• निनादेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निनाद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• नूपुराणाम्: of anklets
• नूपुराणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नूपुर
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निःस्वनैः: with sounds/ringings
• निःस्वनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःस्वन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• vara-striyaḥ (excellent women)
• candra (the moon)
• mekhalā (girdles)
• nūpura (anklets)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s moral arc: worldly struggle and ethical burden culminate in a realm where the fruits of conduct are experienced as honor and splendor. Yet the beauty is presented as an effect of karma and dharma rather than mere sensual indulgence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Svargārohaṇa, the narrative depicts a heavenly reception: the protagonist is attended by celestial women, and the auditory imagery of girdles and anklets conveys the atmosphere of svarga and the transition from human hardship to divine honor.