Shloka 13
युधिष्ठिरप्रश्नः—विश्वामित्रस्य ब्राह्मणत्वकौतूहलम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Viśvāmitra’s Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
तदाप्रभृति पुण्या हि विपाशाभून्महानदी । विख्याता कर्मणा तेन वसिष्ठस्य महात्मन:
tadāprabhṛti puṇyā hi vipāśābhūn mahānadī | vikhyātā karmaṇā tena vasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ ||
ಅಂದಿನಿಂದ ಆ ಮಹಾನದಿಯು ಪವಿತ್ರವೆಂದು ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು ‘ವಿಪಾಶಾ’ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನಿಂದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾಯಿತು. ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ವಸಿಷ್ಠನ ಆ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಕರ್ಮದಿಂದಲೇ ಈ ಕೀರ್ತಿ—ವಿಶ್ವಾಮಿತ್ರನ ಭಯದಿಂದ ಹಗ್ಗ ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಂಡು ಅವನು ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿದರೂ, ನದಿ ಬಂಧನವನ್ನು ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಅವನನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಎತ್ತಿತು.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A place becomes sacred through association with great virtue and extraordinary moral-spiritual events. The verse highlights how the renown of a holy river can arise from the righteous power (and lived experience) of a great sage, emphasizing that ethical-spiritual stature leaves lasting sanctifying influence on the world.
Yudhiṣṭhira recounts that Vasiṣṭha, terrified of Viśvāmitra, tried to end his life by tying himself with a rope and entering a river. The river, however, freed him from the bonds so he emerged alive. Because of this event, the river became famous and was thereafter called Vipāśā—‘the bondless one.’