Shloka 463
Gaṅgā-tīra Udaka-kriyā and Kuntī’s Disclosure of Karṇa’s Maternity
Strī-parva, Adhyāya 27
सूपतीर्था भवद्गड़ा भूयो विप्रससार च । धर्मज्ञ पुरुषोंने अपने हितैषी सुहृदोंके लिये भी जलांजलि देनेका कार्य सम्पन्न किया। वीरोंकी पत्नियोंद्वारा जब उन वीरोंके लिये जलांजलि दी जा रही थी, उस समय गंगाजीके जलमें उतरनेके लिये बड़ा सुन्दर मार्ग बन गया और गंगाका पाट अधिक चौड़ा हो गया
sūpatīrthā bhavad gaṅgā bhūyo viprasasāra ca | dharmajñaiḥ puruṣaiḥ svahitaiṣī-suhṛdbhyo 'pi jalāñjali-dāna-kriyā samāpāditā | vīrāṇāṃ patnībhiḥ teṣāṃ vīrāṇāṃ prati jalāñjalir dīyamānāyāṃ gaṅgā-jale 'vataraṇāya mahān suśobhanaḥ panthā abhavat, gaṅgāyāś ca pāṭaḥ vistīrṇaḥ abhavat |
Vaiśampāyana disse: O Gaṅgā ficou provido de excelentes vaus, e sua corrente voltou a se alargar. Os homens que compreendiam o dharma concluíram o rito da oferta de água (jalāñjali) até mesmo por seus amigos bem-intencionados e leais. E, quando as esposas dos heróis caídos ofereciam água por aqueles heróis, surgiu uma bela e fácil descida às águas do Gaṅgā, e o leito do rio tornou-se mais amplo — um auspicioso amparo ao dever funerário e um sinal de compaixão reverente no rescaldo da guerra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid grief and devastation, dharma is upheld through compassionate rites: offering jalāñjali not only for kin but also for well-wishing friends reflects an ethic of gratitude, social bonds, and respectful closure after violence.
After the war, rites of water-offering are performed for the dead. As the warriors’ wives offer jalāñjali, the Gaṅgā becomes easier to enter—good fords appear and the channel widens—symbolically and practically enabling the mourning community to complete the prescribed duties.