Shloka 5
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
अत्र विष्णु: पुरा देवस्तप्तवांस्तप उत्तमम् | अत्रास्य विधिवद् यज्ञा: सर्वे वृत्ता: सनातना:,'प्राचीनकालमें यहाँ भगवान् विष्णुने उत्तम तपस्या की है, यहीं उनके सभी सनातन यज्ञ विधिपूर्वक सम्पन्न हुए हैं
atra viṣṇuḥ purā devas taptavāṁs tapa uttamam | atrāsya vidhivad yajñāḥ sarve vṛttāḥ sanātanāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Dito mismo, noong unang panahon, isinagawa ng diyos na si Viṣṇu ang pinakamataas na tapas. Dito rin naisakatuparan nang wasto, ayon sa tamang ritwal, ang lahat ng Kanyang walang-hanggang mga yajña.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links sanctity and authority to disciplined austerity (tapas) and properly performed rites (vidhi). It suggests that enduring dharma is upheld through self-control and lawful, conscientious action rather than mere power.
Vaiśampāyana is describing a particular place as holy by recalling that Viṣṇu once practiced supreme austerity there and that his eternal sacrifices were performed there in full accordance with ritual procedure.