Shloka 28
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
स गत्वा द्विजशार्दूलो हिमवन्तं महागिरिम् । अभ्यगच्छन्नदीं पुण्यां बाहुदां धर्मशालिनीम्,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर भगवान् अष्टावक्र उत्तरोत्तर दिशाकी ओर चल दिये। सिद्धों और चारणोंसे सेवित गिरिश्रेष्ठ महापर्वत हिमालयपर पहुँचकर वे श्रेष्ठ द्विज धर्मसे शोभा पानेवाली पुण्यमयी बाहुदा नदीके तटपर गये
sa gatvā dvijaśārdūlo himavantaṃ mahāgirim | abhyagacchan nadīṃ puṇyāṃ bāhudāṃ dharmaśālinīm ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Raja, sesudah itu ‘harimau di antara para Brahmana’ itu pergi ke gunung besar Himavat. Setelah tiba di gunung yang utama itu, ia mendekati sungai suci Bāhudā, aliran yang termasyhur kerana kaitannya dengan dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames movement toward sacred spaces as movement toward dharma: the holy river and the Himalaya are presented as environments that support righteous conduct and inner purification, implying that ethical life is strengthened by seeking elevating company and places.
Bhishma narrates that the eminent Brahmin (in context, Aṣṭāvakra) travels northward, reaches the Himalaya, and then goes to the bank of the sacred river named Bāhudā, described as closely associated with dharma.