Shloka 39
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
सरस्वती सर्वनदीषु पुण्या सरस्वती लोकशुभावहा सदा । सरस्वती प्राप्प जना: सुदुष्कृतं सदा न शोचन्ति परत्र चेह च
sarasvatī sarvanadīṣu puṇyā sarasvatī lokaśubhāvahā sadā | sarasvatī prāpya janāḥ suduṣkṛtaṃ sadā na śocanti paratra ceha ca ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Dalam kalangan semua sungai, Sarasvatī adalah suci. Sarasvatī sentiasa membawa kesejahteraan kepada dunia. Setelah mencapai (atau mandi di) Sarasvatī, manusia tidak lagi berdukacita—di dunia ini mahupun di alam kemudian—atas dosa-dosa berat mereka.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse extols Sarasvatī as supremely purifying: contact with this sacred river is portrayed as relieving people from the burden of remorse over grave wrongdoing, both in this life and after death—highlighting the Mahābhārata theme that tīrthas and dharmic acts can support moral restoration and inner peace.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, the text pauses to praise the sanctity and beneficence of the river Sarasvatī, presenting it as a powerful tīrtha whose attainment (especially through pilgrimage/bathing) grants purification and consolation regarding past misdeeds.