Shloka 10
Udīcī-diśi Tīrtha-kīrtana
Northern Sacred Places Enumeration
माठरस्य वन॑ पुण्यं बहुमूलफलं शिवम् । यूपश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ वरुणस्रोतसे गिरौ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! दक्षिणमें पवित्र माठरवन है, जो प्रचुर फलमूलसे सम्पन्न और कल्याणस्वरूप है। वहाँ वरुण-स्रोतस नामक पर्वतपर माठर (सूर्यके पार्श्ववर्ती देवता) का विजय-स्तम्भ सुशोभित होता है
māṭharasya vanaṁ puṇyaṁ bahu-mūla-phalaṁ śivam | yūpaś ca bharataśreṣṭha varuṇa-srotase girau ||
Dhaumya said: “O best of the Bharatas, there is a sacred forest belonging to Māṭhara—auspicious and rich in roots and fruits. And on the mountain called Varuṇa-srotas there stands a yūpa (a victory or sacrificial pillar) associated with Māṭhara.”
धौम्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethic of seeking auspicious, merit-bearing places: sacred landscapes and their markers (like a yūpa) are presented as supports for dharmic living—especially for those in hardship—by providing both spiritual merit and practical sustenance (roots and fruits).
Dhaumya, the Pāṇḍavas’ priest, points out a specific holy region: the sacred Māṭhara forest, rich in forest produce, and a notable landmark on the Varuṇa-srotas mountain—a yūpa associated with Māṭhara—guiding the listeners toward a recognized sacred site.