Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
प्रपूर्वगौ पूर्वजी चित्रभानू गिरा वा55शंसामि तपसा हानन्तौ । दिव्यौ सुपर्णा विरजौ विमाना- वधिक्षिपन्तौ भुवनानि विश्वा,हे अश्विनीकुमारो! आप दोनों सृष्टिसे पहले विद्यमान थे। आप ही पूर्वज हैं। आप ही चित्रभानु हैं। मैं वाणी और तपके द्वारा आपकी स्तुति करता हूँ; क्योंकि आप अनन्त हैं। दिव्यस्वरूप हैं। सुन्दर पंखवाले दो पक्षीकी भाँति सदा साथ रहनेवाले हैं। रजोगुणशून्य तथा अभिमानसे रहित हैं। सम्पूर्ण विश्वमें आरोग्यका विस्तार करते हैं
prapūrvagau pūrvajī citrabhānū girā vā śaṁsāmi tapasā hy anantau | divyau suparṇā virajau vimānāv adhikṣipantau bhuvanāni viśvā ||
Upamanyu said: “O Aśvinīkumāras, you existed even before creation; you are the primordial ancestors, radiant like blazing fire. With my voice and with austerity I praise you, for you are endless. Divine in form, you move together like two beautiful, winged birds—stainless, free from passion and pride—spreading well-being and health throughout all the worlds.”
राम उवाच
The verse models devotional praise grounded in ethical qualities: the divine is honored not merely for power but for purity (viraja), humility (vimāna), and beneficence—spreading health and welfare across the worlds. It also links spiritual discipline (tapas) and truthful speech (girā) as proper means of reverent approach.
Rāma addresses the twin Aśvinīkumāras with a hymn of praise, describing them as primordial, radiant, inseparable companions like two winged birds, and as celestial healers who diffuse well-being throughout the universe.