अदृश्या गच्छ भीरु त्वं सरस्वति मरुन् प्रति । अपुण्य एष भवतु देशस्त्यक्तस्त्वया शुभे
adṛśyā gaccha bhīru tvaṁ sarasvati marūn prati | apuṇya eṣa bhavatu deśas tyaktas tvayā śubhe ||
“اے بھیرُو سرسوتی! تو پوشیدہ ہو کر ریگستانی دیس کی طرف چلی جا۔ اے شُبھے! تیرے چھوڑے ہوئے اس ملک کو بے پُنّی (بے برکت) ہو جانے دے۔”
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights a dharmic idea of sacred ecology: a land’s purity and prosperity depend on the sustaining presence of sacred forces (here, the Sarasvatī). When that presence is withdrawn—especially through a powerful ascetic’s pronouncement—the region becomes ‘apuṇya,’ signaling moral and ritual decline alongside physical barrenness.
Utathya, described as a leading brāhmaṇa, addresses Sarasvatī directly and commands her to proceed invisibly toward the Maru (desert). He further declares that the land she leaves behind should become impure/without merit, explaining why the area turns barren once the river departs.