Shloka 2.50.22
गङ्गादर्शनम् तथा गुहसमागमः (Vision of the Gaṅgā and Meeting with Guha)
व्यपेतमलसङ्घातां मणिनिर्मलदर्शनाम्।दिशागजैर्वनगजै र्मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः।।2.50.22।।देवोपवाह्यैश्च मुहुस्सन्नादितवनान्तराम्।
vyapeta-mala-saṅghātāṃ maṇi-nirmala-darśanām |
diśā-gajair vana-gajair mattaiś ca vara-vāraṇaiḥ ||2.50.22||
devopavāhyaiś ca muhuḥ sannādita-vanāntarām |
Freed from masses of impurity, she looked clear as a spotless jewel; and the forest depths along her banks repeatedly rang with the trumpeting of excellent, rut-maddened elephants—wild elephants and the mighty ‘quarter-elephants’, fit to bear the gods.
The river, cleansed of heaps of impurities, appears like a transparent gem. The interiors of forests on her banks always resounds with the trumpeting of mighty, intoxicated, wild elephants guarding the quarters, fit to be the vehicles of gods.
Dharma as inner purity and awe: the river’s clarity symbolizes moral clarity, while the elephants’ power evokes respectful caution toward what is sacred and strong.
The poem describes the Gaṅgā’s purity and the vibrant, powerful wildlife in the forests bordering her.
Śraddhā (reverent regard) paired with viveka (discernment) in approaching sacred, powerful environments.