Shloka 8
गंगा च यमुना चैव सरितश्न सरांसि च । प्रदक्षिणमृषिं चक्रुर्न चैनं पर्यपीडयन्,परंतु गंगा-यमुना आदि नदियाँ और सरोवर ऋषिकी केवल परिक्रमा करते थे, उन्हें वष्ट नहीं पहुँचाते थे
gaṅgā ca yamunā caiva saritaś ca sarāṃsi ca | pradakṣiṇam ṛṣiṃ cakrur na cainaṃ paryapīḍayan |
Bhishma said: “The rivers—Ganga and Yamuna—and other streams and lakes merely circumambulated the sage in reverence; they did not press upon him or cause him any harm.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person firmly rooted in dharma and tapas is not merely socially respected; even the natural world is portrayed as responding with reverence and non-harm. The verse highlights the ethical ideal that spiritual discipline generates a protective moral force.
Bhishma describes a wondrous sign: Ganga, Yamuna, and other waters do not disturb the sage. Instead, they perform pradakshina—ritual circumambulation—indicating honor and restraint rather than aggression or disruption.