Shloka 99
Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)
'भीमसेन! यहाँ सम तालसे गाते हुए गीतों तथा साममन्त्रोंका विविध स्वर सुनायी पड़ता है, जो सम्पूर्ण भूतोंके चित्तको आकर्षित करनेवाला है। यह परम पवित्र एवं कल्याणमयी देवनदी महागंगा हैं, इनका दर्शन करो ।। कलहंसगणैर्जुष्टामृषिकिन्नरसेविताम् । धातुभिश्न सरिद्धिश्न किन्नरैर्मुगपक्षिभि:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: “Bhīmasena! iha sama-tālase gāteṣu gīteṣu tathā sāma-mantreṣu vividhaḥ svaraḥ śrūyate, yaḥ sarva-bhūta-citta-ākarṣaṇaḥ. eṣā paramapavitrā ca kalyāṇamayī devanadī Mahāgaṅgā; asyā darśanaṁ kuru. kala-haṁsa-gaṇair juṣṭām ṛṣi-kinnara-sevitām, dhātubhiḥ śobhitāṁ sarid-śreṣṭhāṁ kinnaraiḥ mṛga-pakṣibhiḥ …”
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Bhīmasena, dito’y naririnig ang sari-saring himig—mga awiting inaawit sa pantay na tiyempo at ang maraming tono ng mga pag-awit na Sāman—musikang humihila sa isipan ng lahat ng nilalang. Masdan ang dakilang ilog na banal at mapagpala, ang Mahā Gaṅgā; tanggapin ang kanyang darśana. Dinadalaw siya ng mga pangkat ng mailap na sisne, pinaglilingkuran ng mga rishi at mga Kinnara, pinapalamutian ng mga kulay ng mineral, pinakamainam sa mga ilog, at pinaliligiran ng mga Kinnara kasama ng mga hayop at mga ibon.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Gaṅgā-darśana as intrinsically purifying and welfare-bestowing, and it links sacred sound (Sāman chant, measured song) with the power to steady and attract the mind. Ethical emphasis falls on reverence for holy places and disciplined attention—approaching the sacred with receptivity rather than distraction.
Vaiśampāyana describes to Bhīma a wondrous riverscape where melodious songs and Sāman chants are heard. He identifies the river as the divine Mahāgaṅgā and urges Bhīma to behold her, depicting her as frequented by swans, sages, and Kinnaras and beautified by natural splendor.