Shloka 38
Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative
निवृत्तां तां सरिच्छेष्ठां तत्र दृष्टवा तु लाड़ली । बभूव विस्मितो राजन् बल: श्वेतानुलेपन:
nivṛttāṃ tāṃ saricchreṣṭhāṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā tu lāḍalī | babhūva vismito rājan balaḥ śvetānulepanaḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。王よ、白檀の香膏を身に塗ったバララーマが、ナイミシャ林の大聖仙に拝謁の機を与えんとして東へと向きを返した、河川の第一サラスヴァティーをそこで見たとき、彼は驚嘆に打たれた。この場面は聖地への畏敬と苦行の功徳の力を示す――自然さえも、リシたちの臨在と霊的権威に応じて動くかのように描かれている。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sanctity of sages and sacred places: the presence and merit of ṛṣis are depicted as so potent that even a revered river is imagined as turning back to honor them. Ethically, it reinforces humility and reverence toward spiritual discipline and tīrthas.
Balarāma arrives and sees the foremost river Sarasvatī, described as having turned back toward the east to meet the great sages dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya. On witnessing this extraordinary sight, he becomes amazed.