Shloka 38
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
सरस्वतीवाससमा कुतो रति: सरस्वतीवाससमा: कुतो गुणा: । सरस्वतीं प्राप्प दिवं गता जना: सदा स्मरिष्यन्ति नदीं सरस्वतीम्
saravatīvāsasamā kuto ratiḥ saravatīvāsasamāḥ kuto guṇāḥ | sarasvatīṃ prāpya divaṃ gatā janāḥ sadā smariṣyanti nadīṃ sarasvatīm ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Di manakah lagi dapat ditemukan kenikmatan yang setara dengan tinggal di tebing Sungai Sarasvatī? Di manakah lagi ada kebajikan yang sebanding dengan kebajikan yang diperoleh dengan berdiam di sana? Mereka yang mendekati Sarasvatī dan, melalui daya penyuciannya, mencapai syurga, akan selama-lamanya mengingati Sungai Sarasvatī.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse extols the unique spiritual and ethical value of residing near a sacred river: proximity to a tīrtha cultivates guṇa (virtue) and yields lasting puṇya, so powerful that even those who attain heaven continue to cherish and remember the Sarasvatī.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration within the Śalya Parva, the Sarasvatī is praised as a supremely sanctifying river; the statement functions as a eulogy (stuti) highlighting the joy, virtue, and heavenly merit associated with dwelling on her banks.