Shloka 54
Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative
ततः कुण्जान् बहून् कृत्वा संनिवृत्ता सरस्वती । ऋषीणां पुण्यतपसां कारुण्याज्जनमेजय
tataḥ kuñjān bahūn kṛtvā saṃnivṛttā sarasvatī | ṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyatapasāṃ kāruṇyāj janamejaya ||
Then, O Janamejaya, having formed many thickets and groves, the river Sarasvatī turned back, moved by compassion for those sages whose austerities were holy and meritorious.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true spiritual merit (puṇya-tapas) can elicit compassion and restraint even from powerful forces; holiness is portrayed as ethically transformative, prompting mercy rather than harm.
Vaiśampāyana tells King Janamejaya that Sarasvatī, after creating many groves/thickets, withdraws and turns back because compassion arises in her toward the holy ascetic sages.