Puṣkara-Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Phala of Pilgrimage
Nārada–Yudhiṣṭhira; Pulastya–Bhīṣma Transmission
वन॑ तु तदभूत् तेन हीनमक्लिष्टकर्मणा । कुबेरेण यथा हीन वन चैत्ररथं तथा,अनायास ही महान् कर्म करनेवाले अर्जुनके बिना वह वन उसी प्रकार शोभाशून्य-सा हो गया, जैसे कुबेरके बिना चैत्ररथ वन
vanaṁ tu tad abhūt tena hīnam akliṣṭa-karmāṇā | kuberaṇa yathā hīnaṁ vanaṁ caitrarathaṁ tathā ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Aquela floresta, privada dele—incansável realizador de feitos—pareceu como que despojada do seu esplendor. Assim como o bosque de Caitraratha pareceria diminuído sem Kubera, assim também a floresta se mostrava vazia e sem beleza sem Arjuna.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse teaches that excellence in character and steadfast action (‘akliṣṭa-karmā’) has a sustaining, beautifying effect on the world; when such a person is absent, even a naturally splendid place feels diminished—highlighting the ethical value of responsible presence and service.
The narrator describes the forest’s changed atmosphere after Arjuna is no longer there: it seems bereft and less radiant, likened to Kubera’s celebrated Caitraratha grove if Kubera himself were absent.