Shloka 52
कार्त्तिकेयाभिषेकः — Consecration of Kārttikeya and the Enumeration of His Retinue
पुण्यां हैमव्तीं देवीं सरिच्छेष्ठां सरस्वतीम् । समन्तपज्चके या वै त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता
puṇyāṃ haimavatīṃ devīṃ saricchreṣṭhāṃ sarasvatīm | samantapañcake yā vai triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā ||
വൈശംപായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവിടെ ഹിമാലയജനിതയായ പുണ്യമയി ദേവി സരസ്വതി, നദികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ; സമന്തപഞ്ചകത്തിൽ പ്രവഹിച്ച് ത്രിലോകത്തിലും പ്രസിദ്ധയാണ്.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates Sarasvatī as a supremely sacred presence—both river and goddess—whose fame spans the three worlds, underscoring the Mahābhārata’s ethic that dharma is supported by tīrthas (holy places) and reverence for purifying, life-sustaining forces.
Vaiśaṃpāyana identifies and praises the Sarasvatī at Samantapañcaka, situating the account within a well-known sacred landscape (Kurukṣetra region) and preparing the listener to understand the significance of events or descriptions connected with that revered locale.