Mahabharata 9.42.33 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 42, Shloka 33

Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha

Indra–Namuci Expiation

Devanagari script

एवं सरस्वती राजन्‌ स्तूयमाना महर्षिणा

Transliteration

evaṃ sarasvatī rājan stūyamānā maharṣiṇā | rājan mahārṣike mukhase as prakāra stuti suntī huī sarasvatīne un brahmarṣikoṃ apne vegadvārā viśvāmitrake āśramapar pahuṃcā diyā aura viśvāmitrase bārambār nivedana kiyā ki “vasiṣṭha muni upasthita haiṃ!”

Translation

ହେ ରାଜନ୍! ଏହିପରି ମହର୍ଷିଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସ୍ତୁତି ଶୁଣି ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ତାହା ଗ୍ରହଣ କଲେ। ପରେ ନିଜ ବେଗରେ ସେଇ ବ୍ରହ୍ମର୍ଷି ବସିଷ୍ଠଙ୍କୁ ବିଶ୍ୱାମିତ୍ରଙ୍କ ଆଶ୍ରମକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚାଇଦେଲେ। ତାପରେ ବିଶ୍ୱାମିତ୍ରଙ୍କୁ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ନିବେଦନ କଲେ—“ବସିଷ୍ଠ ମୁନି ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ଅଛନ୍ତି।”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī (the river/goddess)
• सरस्वती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• स्तूयमाना: being praised
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Passive

• महर्षिणा: by the great sage
• महर्षिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Sarasvatī
• Viśvāmitra
• Brahmarṣis
• Viśvāmitra’s āśrama (hermitage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights the efficacy of reverent praise (stuti) and the moral force of respectful petition: sacred power is not merely coercive but responds to humility, right speech, and the dharmic intent to bring sages together rather than deepen hostility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sarasvatī, pleased by Vasiṣṭha’s praise, swiftly carries the assembled brahmarṣis to Viśvāmitra’s hermitage and repeatedly informs Viśvāmitra that Vasiṣṭha has arrived, setting the stage for an encounter between the two great sages.