Shloka 29
Adhyāya 6: Pañca-mahābhūta–guṇa-nirdeśa and Sudarśana-dvīpa
Five Elements, Sensory Qualities, and a Cosmographic Island
पुण्या पुण्यतमैर्जुष्टा गड़ा भागीरथी शुभा । प्लवन्तीव प्रवेगेन हृदे चन्द्रमस: शुभे,नरेश्वर! उस मेरुपर्वतके शिखरसे दुग्धके समान श्वेतधारवाली, विश्वरूपा, अपरिमित शक्तिशालिनी, भयंकर वज्रपातके समान शब्द करनेवाली, परम पुण्यात्मा पुरुषों-द्वारा सेवित, शुभस्वरूपा पुण्यमयी भागीरथी गंगा बड़े प्रबल वेगसे सुन्दर चन्द्रकुण्डमें गिरती हैं
sañjaya uvāca | puṇyā puṇyatamair juṣṭā gaḍā bhāgīrathī śubhā | plavantīva pravegena hṛde candramasaḥ śubhe, nareśvara | meruparvataśikharebhyaḥ kṣīrasamānaśvetadhārā viśvarūpā aparimitāśaktisampannā bhayaṅkaravajrapātasaṃnibhaśabdā paramapuṇyātmabhiḥ puruṣaiḥ sevitā śubhasvarūpā puṇyamayī bhāgīrathī gaṅgā mahāprabalavegena sundare candrakuṇḍe patati |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: O hari, ang mapalad na Bhāgīrathī—banal at minamahal ng mga pinakamarurunong at matutuwid—ay rumaragasa na wari’y dinadala ng mismong lakas ng baha. Mula sa tuktok ng Bundok Meru, bumubuhos siya sa mga puting agos na tila gatas, napakalawak ang anyo at di masukat ang kapangyarihan, at ang ugong niya’y gaya ng nakapanghihilakbot na kulog ng kidlat. Pinaglilingkuran at iginagalang ng mga lalaking sukdulang matuwid, ang sagradong Gaṅgā na mapagpala ang likas ay sumisid nang ubod-bilis sa magandang lawa na tinatawag na Chandrakunda.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates reverence for sacred realities: what is ‘puṇya’ is not merely admired but ‘sevita’—approached with disciplined respect by the virtuous. It frames holiness as something that purifies and orders life, especially for rulers who must align power with auspicious, dharmic foundations.
Sanjaya describes the Bhagirathi (Ganga) in vivid, cosmic terms: descending from Mount Meru in milk-white torrents, roaring like a thunderbolt, and plunging with great force into the beautiful Chandrakunda (Moon-lake).