Shloka 17
Bhāgīratha’s Tapas and the Petition to Gaṅgā (गङ्गावतरण-प्रसङ्गः)
आगम्य पितरं चोचुस्तत: प्राउजजलयोडग्रत: । ससमुद्रवनद्वीपा सनदीनदकन्दरा,तब वे पिताके पास आकर उनके आगे हाथ जोड़कर बोले--'“महाराज! हमने आपकी आज्ञासे समुद्र, वन, द्वीप, नदी, नद, कन्दरा, पर्वत और वन्य प्रदेशोंसहित सारी पृथ्वी खोज डाली, परंतु हमें न तो अश्व मिला न उसका चुरानेवाला ही।” युधिष्ठिर
Having come to their father, they spoke before him with hands joined in reverence: “O King, by your command we have searched the whole earth—together with its seas, forests, islands, rivers and streams, and its caves and ravines—yet we have found neither the sacrificial horse nor the one who stole it.” The scene underscores the sons’ dutiful obedience and truthful report, set against the king’s intense insistence on completing the rite and recovering what has been taken.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in action: respectful conduct toward elders (prāñjali), faithful execution of a command, and honest reporting of results—even when the outcome is disappointing. It also frames the ethical pressure of royal vows and ritual obligations that can drive extreme resolve.
The king’s sons return after an exhaustive search across the whole world—seas, forests, islands, rivers, and caves—and report that they have not found the sacrificial horse or the thief. This report sets up the king’s next reaction and the continuation of the quest.