Shloka 21
Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
इत्यामन्त्रय सुधर्मा स कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम् । कन्यां शिरस्युपापच्राय प्रविवेश महीतलम्,सुधर्मासे ऐसी सलाह करके मातलिने इष्टदेवकी परिक्रमा की और कन्याका मस्तक सूँघकर रसातलमें प्रवेश किया
ity āmantrya sudharmā sa kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam | kanyāṃ śirasy upāghrāya praviveśa mahītalam ||
Nachdem er so Abschied genommen hatte, vollzog Sudharmā ehrfürchtig die Pradakṣiṇā. Dann roch er am Scheitel des Mädchens als Zeichen liebevollen Segens und Abschieds und trat in die Erde ein, hinab in die Unterwelten.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette in departure: one should take leave respectfully, honor what is revered through pradakṣiṇā, and offer affectionate, protective blessing to the vulnerable (here, the maiden) before leaving.
Sudharmā formally takes leave, performs a reverential circumambulation, blesses the maiden by smelling her head, and then departs by entering into the earth—suggesting a supernatural descent to subterranean realms.