Shloka 6
Night Vigil and Kṛṣṇa’s Instructions to Dāruka (निशि प्रजागरः—दारुकानुशासनम्)
हैरण्यास्तत्र वाहिन्य: स्वैरिण्यो व्यवहन् पुरा । ग्राहान् कर्कटकांश्वैव मत्स्यांश्व विविधान् बहून्,राजा सुहोत्रके राज्यमें पहले स्वच्छन्द गतिसे बहनेवाली स्वर्णरससे भरी हुई सरिताएँ सुवर्णमय ग्राहों, केकड़ों, मत्स्यों तथा नाना प्रकारके बहुसंख्यक जल-जन्तुओंको अपने भीतर बहाया करती थीं
hairaṇyās tatra vāhinyāḥ svairiṇyo vyavahan purā | grāhān karkaṭakāṃś caiva matsyāṃś ca vividhān bahūn |
Nārada said: “In that realm, in former times, streams filled with golden essence flowed freely at their own will, bearing within them golden crocodiles, crabs, and many kinds of fish and other numerous aquatic creatures.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse evokes a world of extraordinary abundance to highlight the grandeur (and implied transience) of worldly prosperity; such marvels form a backdrop against which dharma and right conduct, not mere wealth, become the lasting measure.
Nārada is describing a remarkable region from ancient times where freely flowing streams, filled with golden substance, carried aquatic creatures—crocodiles, crabs, and many varieties of fish—emphasizing the wondrous, opulent character of that place.