Shloka 4
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
मार्गमें जाते हुए नारदजीके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर मातलिने उनसे अपना सारा कार्य यथावत््रूपसे बताया ।।
tam uvāca atha sa muniḥ—gacchāvaḥ sahitāv iti | salileśa-didṛkṣārtham aham api udyato divaḥ |
Then the sage said to Mātali, “Let us go together.” He added that he too had set out from the world of the gods, wishing to behold Varuṇa, the lord of the waters.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights purposeful movement aligned with dharma: one should undertake journeys and actions with a clear, worthy aim (here, seeking a divine audience) and with respectful cooperation, rather than impulsiveness or ego.
After Mātali has explained his mission in response to Nārada’s inquiry, the sage (speaking as Kaṇva in this section) tells Mātali to proceed together, stating that he too has come from heaven with the desire to see Varuṇa, the lord of waters.