Shloka 16
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
स््नात्वा तत्र च धर्मात्मा परां प्रीतिमवाप्य च । ऋषिभिश्नैव सिद्धैश्न सहितो वै महाबल:
snātvā tatra ca dharmātmā parāṃ prītim avāpya ca | ṛṣibhiś caiva siddhaiś ca sahito vai mahābalaḥ ||
Habiéndose bañado allí, el poderoso de alma justa alcanzó una alegría profunda; y permaneció en compañía de videntes y seres perfeccionados (siddhas). El verso subraya que la pureza interior y la disposición dhármica atraen de modo natural hacia la santa convivencia y el hondo contento, aun en medio del tumulto de la guerra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links outward purification (bathing/ritual cleansing) with inward dharmic character: when one is dharmātmā, purity of conduct and mind yields deep contentment (parā prīti) and leads naturally to the company of the wise (ṛṣis) and the spiritually accomplished (siddhas).
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the mighty, righteous figure bathes at that sacred spot, experiences profound joy, and is then found in the presence of sages and siddhas—marking a moment of sanctification and uplift within the broader Shalya Parva war narrative.