Shloka 5
तीर्थयात्रा: सागरतीर्थ-शूर्पारक-प्रभासगमनम्
Pilgrimage to Sea Tīrthas, Śūrpāraka, and Prabhāsa
तत्रार्जुनस्थाग्रय धनुर्धरस्य निशम्य तत् कर्म नरैरशक्यम् | सम्पूज्यमान: परमर्षिसड्घै: परां मुर्द पाण्डुसुत: स लेभे,वहाँ श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर अर्जुनके उस पराक्रमको, जो दूसरे मनुष्योंके लिये असम्भव था, सुनकर पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरको बड़ी प्रसन्नता प्राप्त हुई। उन तीर्थोमें बड़े-बड़े ऋषिगण भी उनका सत्कार करते थे। जनमेजय! द्रौपदी तथा भाइयोंके साथ राजा युधिष्ठिरने उन पाँचों तीर्थोमें स्नान करके अर्जुनके पराक्रमकी प्रशंसा करते हुए बड़े हर्षका अनुभव किया
tatrārjunasthāgrya-dhanurdharasya niśamya tat karma narair aśakyam | sampūjyamānaḥ paramarṣi-saṅghaiḥ parāṃ mudāṃ pāṇḍusutaḥ sa lebhe ||
There, hearing of the deed of Arjuna—the foremost of bowmen—an exploit impossible for ordinary men, that son of Pāṇḍu (Yudhiṣṭhira) attained supreme joy. Honoured and welcomed by assemblies of great seers, he rejoiced, praising Arjuna’s prowess—an affirmation that extraordinary power, when aligned with dharma and supported by the wise, becomes a source of rightful confidence rather than pride.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Excellence and extraordinary capability (like Arjuna’s) are best received within a dharmic frame: the righteous respond with grateful joy and renewed resolve, while the wise (great seers) confer legitimacy through honour, preventing power from turning into arrogance.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, hearing of Arjuna’s near-impossible exploit, feels profound happiness. In that setting he is also being honoured by assemblies of great sages, and he praises Arjuna’s prowess.