Shloka 17
अध्याय ९० — लोमशोपदेशः तथा तीर्थयात्रानिश्चयः
Lomaśa’s Counsel and the Resolve for Pilgrimage
यत्र सर्वा: सरिच्छेष्ठा: साक्षात् तमृषिसत्तमम् | स्वं स्वं तोयमुपादाय परिवार्योपतस्थिरे,जिसमें सब श्रेष्ठ नदियाँ मूर्तिमती हो अपना-अपना जल लेकर उन मुनिश्रेष्ठके पास आयीं और उन्हें सब ओरसे घेरकर खड़ी हुई थीं
yatra sarvāḥ saricchreṣṭhāḥ sākṣāt tam ṛṣisattamam | svaṃ svaṃ toyam upādāya parivāryopatasthire ||
There, all the foremost rivers—appearing in embodied form—came directly to that best of sages. Each brought her own waters, and, surrounding him on every side, stood in reverent attendance, as if offering their very essence to honor his sanctity.
धौम्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethic of honoring spiritual excellence: even mighty natural forces (rivers) are portrayed as reverently serving a true sage, implying that purity, restraint, and tapas command respect beyond worldly power.
Dhaumya describes a scene where the foremost rivers arrive in embodied form before an eminent sage, each bringing her own waters, and they stand surrounding him in attendance—an image of nature offering homage to sanctity.