Shloka 29
कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī
Devanagari script
महर्षीणां मतं ज्ञात्वा ततः सा सरितां वरा
Transliteration
maharṣīṇāṁ mataṁ jñātvā tataḥ sā saritāṁ varā
Translation
毗舍波耶那说：既已明了诸大圣仙之裁断，那条诸河之最胜者便依其而行——使自身水道与贤者之箴言相合；此举彰显对智者权威的敬奉，也显出辨别并遵循正道指引之伦理分量。
Word by Word
महर्षीणाम्of the great sages
महर्षीणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहर्षि
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
मतम्opinion, view
मतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ज्ञात्वाhaving known
ज्ञात्वा:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for ktvā), Non-finite
ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
साshe
सा:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सरिताम्of rivers
सरिताम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसरित्
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
वराthe best, excellent
वरा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवर
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
व
वैशम्पायन (Vaiśaṃpāyana)म
महर्षयः (great sages/ṛṣis)स
सरितां वरा (the foremost of rivers)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical importance of discerning wise counsel (the matam of great sages) and then acting in accordance with it—suggesting that deference to realized, dharma-grounded authority can guide right action.
The narrator states that, after learning the decision/opinion of the great seers, the foremost of rivers (a specific river implied by context) proceeds accordingly, marking a narrative step where the river’s subsequent action follows the sages’ counsel.