Shloka 5
Gandhamādana-nivāsaḥ — Draupadyāḥ prārthanā, Bhīmasenārohaṇaṃ, Maṇimāna-yuddham
Chapter 157: Draupadi’s request, Bhima’s ascent, and the combat with Maniman
शृण्वानास्तत्र तत्र सम आश्रमेषु शिवेषु च । अभिषेक द्विजै: सार्थ कृतवन्तो विशेषत:,“हमने ऋषियोंके पूर्वचरित्र, कर्म और चेष्टाओंकी कथा सुनी है। राजर्षियोंके भी चरित्र और भाँति-भाँतिकी शुभ कथाएँ सुनते हुए मंगलमय आश्रमोंमें विशेषत: ब्राह्मणोंके साथ तीर्थस्नान किया है
śṛṇvānās tatra tatra samāśrameṣu śiveṣu ca | abhiṣekaṃ dvijaiḥ sārthaṃ kṛtavanto viśeṣataḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “As we journeyed from place to place, we listened in many sacred hermitages—auspicious and serene—to accounts of the ancient seers: their former lives, their deeds, and their disciplines. Hearing also the varied and wholesome narratives of royal sages, we performed ritual bathing and consecratory ablutions at holy places, especially in the company of Brahmins.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic formation through śravaṇa (listening to exemplary lives of ṛṣis and rājarṣis) and through purifying practice—pilgrimage and ritual bathing—undertaken with the guidance and company of dvijas. Ethical cultivation is shown as both learning (hearing sacred narratives) and disciplined conduct (observances at tīrthas and āśramas).
The speaker describes a journey through multiple auspicious hermitages and sacred places. Along the way, the travelers listen to accounts of seers and royal sages and perform abhiṣeka/holy bathing, particularly together with Brahmins, indicating a structured pilgrimage marked by instruction and ritual observance.