Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 57
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
मणिमुक्ताप्रवालैश्न महाहैरुपशोभितम् । हंसमालापरिक्षिप्तं नागवीथीसमाकुलम्
maṇimuktāpravālaiś ca mahāhair upaśobhitam | haṃsamālāparikṣiptaṃ nāgavīthīsamākulam ||
ភីष្មៈបានមានព្រះវាចា៖ «វាត្រូវបានតុបតែងដោយមណី គុជខ្យង និងផ្កាថ្ម ហើយកាន់តែស្រស់ស្អាតដោយខ្សែកដ៏ធំៗ។ វាត្រូវបានព័ទ្ធជុំវិញដោយមាលាហង្ស ហើយកកកុញដោយ “នាគវីថី”»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily functions as a descriptive passage: it evokes auspicious, orderly grandeur—ornaments, swan-garlands, and elephant processions—often used in the Mahābhārata to frame royal settings and to suggest prosperity and ceremonial dignity rather than to state a direct moral injunction.
Bhīṣma is describing a splendid scene (a place or setting) richly decorated with precious materials and bustling with ceremonial movement—swans arranged like garlands and avenues filled with elephant processions—creating a vivid picture of royal magnificence.