Shloka 20
सगरोपाख्यानम् (Sagara-Upākhyāna): Śiva’s boon and the extraordinary birth of Sagara’s progeny
एवमुक्त्वा ततो5गच्छत् समुद्र सरितां पतिम् ऋषिभिश्न तपःसिद्धे: सार्ध देवैश्व सुब्रत
evam uktvā tato 'gacchat samudraḥ saritāṁ patiṁ ṛṣibhiś ca tapaḥ-siddhaiḥ sārdhaṁ devaiś ca suvrataḥ
Having spoken thus, he then set out for the ocean, the lord of rivers, accompanied by sages perfected through austerities and also by the gods—he, the steadfast observer of sacred vows. The verse underscores that decisive action, when grounded in disciplined speech and ascetic merit, draws the support of the righteous and even the divine.
लोमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Disciplined speech and steadfast vows (suvrata) should culminate in purposeful action; when one proceeds in a dharmic manner supported by tapas, one gains the company and sanction of the righteous (ṛṣis) and even the gods.
After finishing his statement, the subject of the passage proceeds toward the ocean—described as the lord of rivers—accompanied by ascetic sages and the gods, indicating a significant, sanctified journey within the Vana Parva’s travel-and-tirtha context.