Shloka 17
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
भूतनाथ! स्त्री सदा स्त्रीका ही अनुसरण करती है। मेरे ऐसा करनेसे ये श्रेष्ठ सरिताएँ मेरे द्वारा सम्मानित होंगी ।।
bhūtanātha! strī sadā strīkā hī anusaraṇa karatī hai | mama etat kāraṇena ime śreṣṭhāḥ saritaḥ mayā sammānitā bhaviṣyanti || eṣā sarasvatī puṇyā nadīnām uttamā nadī | prathamā sarvasaritāṁ nadī sāgaragāminī | (yamunā narmadāṁ caiva kāverīm atha nimnagām) |
大自在天（摩醯首罗）说道：“噢，众生之主！女子恒常循行于女子之道。由我如此行事，这些上妙诸河将因我而得受尊崇。此处即是圣洁的萨拉斯瓦蒂河，诸河之最胜——万流之首，奔注入海。此处亦有亚穆那河、那尔摩达河与迦维梨河，以及其他诸条下行归海之河。”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage elevates reverence for sacred rivers as a dharmic act: honoring them is presented as meritorious, with Sarasvatī singled out as preeminent among rivers that lead to the ocean.
Maheshvara speaks to “Bhūtanātha,” explaining that his action will result in the honoring of great rivers; he then identifies Sarasvatī as foremost and names other major rivers present in the sacred setting.