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,“सरस्वती नदीके तटपर निवास करनेमें जो सुख और आनन्द है, वह अन्यत्र कहाँसे मिल सकता है? सरस्वतीतटपर निवास करनेमें जो गुण हैं, वे अन्यत्र कहाँ हैं? सरस्वतीका सेवन करके स्वर्गलोकमें पहुँचे हुए मनुष्य सदा सरस्वती नदीका स्मरण करते रहेंगे!
saravatīvāsasamā kuto ratiḥ saravatīvāsasamāḥ kuto guṇāḥ | sarasvatīṃ prāpya divaṃ gatā janāḥ sadā smariṣyanti nadīṃ sarasvatīm ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Onde mais se poderia encontrar deleite igual ao de viver nas margens do Sarasvatī? Onde há virtudes comparáveis às que se obtêm ao habitar ali? Aqueles que se aproximaram do Sarasvatī e, por seu poder santificador, alcançaram o céu, recordarão para sempre o rio 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.