Shloka 6
तीर्थयात्रा: सागरतीर्थ-शूर्पारक-प्रभासगमनम्
Pilgrimage to Sea Tīrthas, Śūrpāraka, and Prabhāsa
स तेषु तीर्थेष्वभिषिक्तगात्र: कृष्णासहाय: सहितो<्नुजैश्न । सम्पूजयन् विक्रममर्जुनस्य रेमे महीपाल पति: पृथिव्या:,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
sa teṣu tīrtheṣv abhiṣikta-gātraḥ kṛṣṇā-sahāyaḥ sahito 'nujaiś ca | sampūjayan vikramam arjunasya reme mahīpāla-patiḥ pṛthivyāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having bathed in those sacred fords, King Yudhiṣṭhira—the lord of the earth—accompanied by Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) and joined by his younger brothers, rejoiced. As he honored and praised Arjuna’s valor, he experienced deep gladness, for such prowess was beyond the reach of ordinary men; and in those holy places great ṛṣis, too, received and honored them.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links inner joy and moral strength to dharmic conduct: purification through tīrtha-bathing, respectful honoring of another’s excellence (Arjuna’s valor), and steadfast companionship with family. It models kingship grounded in humility, gratitude, and reverence for merit rather than envy.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ forest period, Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by Draupadī and his younger brothers, bathes at the sacred tīrthas. He praises Arjuna’s extraordinary feats and feels renewed happiness; the group is also honored by sages at these holy places.