Shloka 39
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
सरस्वती सर्वनदीषु पुण्या सरस्वती लोकशुभावहा सदा । सरस्वती प्राप्प जना: सुदुष्कृतं सदा न शोचन्ति परत्र चेह च
sarasvatī sarvanadīṣu puṇyā sarasvatī lokaśubhāvahā sadā | sarasvatī prāpya janāḥ suduṣkṛtaṃ sadā na śocanti paratra ceha ca ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Trong mọi dòng sông, Sarasvatī là thiêng khiết. Sarasvatī luôn đem phúc lành cho thế gian. Khi đã đến (hay tắm gội) nơi Sarasvatī, con người không còn than khóc—ở đời này hay đời sau—vì những tội lỗi nặng nề của mình.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse extols Sarasvatī as supremely purifying: contact with this sacred river is portrayed as relieving people from the burden of remorse over grave wrongdoing, both in this life and after death—highlighting the Mahābhārata theme that tīrthas and dharmic acts can support moral restoration and inner peace.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, the text pauses to praise the sanctity and beneficence of the river Sarasvatī, presenting it as a powerful tīrtha whose attainment (especially through pilgrimage/bathing) grants purification and consolation regarding past misdeeds.