Shloka 6
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
अवगाह तु तौ भूमिमुभौ मातलिनारदौ । ददृशाते महात्मानौ लोकपालमपाम्पतिम्,तदनन्तर मातलि और नारद दोनों महात्मा पृथ्वीके भीतर प्रवेश करके जलके स्वामी लोकपाल वरुणके समीप गये
avagāha tu tau bhūmim ubhau mātalināradau | dadṛśāte mahātmānau lokapālam apāmpatim ||
Kemudian kedua-duanya—Mātali dan Nārada—menyelam masuk ke dalam bumi. Di sana, dua jiwa agung itu melihat Varuṇa, penjaga dunia dan penguasa segala perairan.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s vision of dharma as supported by cosmic administration: the Lokapālas (world-guardians) embody ordered governance of realms. Seeking Varuṇa suggests that moral and social order on earth is connected to higher, principled oversight.
Mātali and the sage Nārada descend into the earth and approach Varuṇa, the guardian deity of waters. The scene signals a deliberate journey to meet a divine authority, typically to obtain information, guidance, or assistance relevant to unfolding events.