Shloka 51
शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command
आकाशे विद्रुमे पुण्ये प्रस्थे हिमवत: शुभे | अरुणां सरस्वती प्राप्य पपु: सस्नुश्चन ते जलम्
ākāśe vidrume puṇye prasthē himavataḥ śubhe | aruṇāṃ sarasvatīṃ prāpya papuḥ sasnuś ca te jalam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Di dataran tinggi yang bertuah dan suci, tanpa pepohon, bernama Ākāśa-vidruma, di puncak-puncak Himavat yang indah, mereka sampai ke Sarasvatī yang alirannya kemerah-merahan. Di sana mereka meminum airnya dan mandi—mencari kesegaran serta kesucian upacara di tengah perjalanan yang berat, di bawah bayang-bayang perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid conflict, the epic repeatedly foregrounds practices of restraint and purification: approaching sacred waters, bathing, and drinking symbolize renewing strength while aligning oneself with dharma through cleanliness, reverence, and disciplined conduct.
Sañjaya reports that the group reached a holy, open plateau on the Himalayan heights, came to the reddish-flowing Sarasvatī, and there bathed and drank the water—an interlude of refreshment and ritual purification during their movement through sacred terrain.