Shloka 113
Kapālamocana-tīrtha (Auśanasa) and Balarāma’s Sarasvatī Pilgrimage
न दृश्यते सरिच्छेष्ठा यस्मादिह सरस्वती । राजन्! इस प्रकार जब पितामह ब्रह्मा पुष्करमें रहकर यज्ञ कर रहे थे
na dṛśyate saricchreṣṭhā yasmād iha sarasvatī | rājan, itthaṁ yadā pitāmahaḥ brahmā puṣkare sthitvā yajñaṁ karoti sma, tadā ṛṣayas tam ūcuḥ—“bhagavan, ayaṁ te yajño ’dya mahad-guṇa-sampanno na bhavati; yata iha saritāṁ śreṣṭhā sarasvatī na dṛśyate.”
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜନ୍! ଏପରି ଭାବେ ପିତାମହ ବ୍ରହ୍ମା ପୁଷ୍କରରେ ଯଜ୍ଞ କରୁଥିବାବେଳେ ଋଷିମାନେ ତାଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ—“ଭଗବନ୍! ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଏହି ଯଜ୍ଞ ଏପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ମହିମାରେ ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ନୁହେଁ; କାରଣ ଏଠାରେ ସରିତାମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠା ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ଦୃଶ୍ୟମାନ ନୁହେଁ।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual action (yajña) is considered fully efficacious only when essential sacred conditions are present; the sages emphasize completeness and auspicious propriety, here symbolized by the presence of Sarasvatī, the foremost river and a marker of sanctity.
During Brahmā’s sacrifice at Puṣkara, the sages observe that Sarasvatī is absent and therefore tell Brahmā that the rite has not yet attained its full excellence; the narration is framed by Vaiśampāyana addressing King Janamejaya.