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 ||
Alors, ô Janamejaya, après avoir formé de nombreux fourrés et bosquets, la Sarasvatī se détourna et revint en arrière, émue de compassion pour ces sages dont les austérités étaient saintes et pleines de mérite.
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.