Shloka 73

Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

सरांसि बहुशः पार्था: पश्यन्त: शैलसानुषु । पद्मोत्पलविमिश्राणि सुखशीतजलानि च,पाण्डवोंने पर्वतीय शिखरोंपर बहुत-से ऐसे सरोवर देखे, जो निर्मल स्फटिकमणिके समान सुशोभित थे। उनमें सफेद पाँखवाले पक्षी कलहंस आदि विचरते तथा सारस कलरव करते थे। कमल और उत्पल-पुष्पोंसे संयुक्त उन सरोवरोंमें सुखद एवं शीतल जल भरा था

Transliteration

sarāṃsi bahuśaḥ pārthāḥ paśyantaḥ śailasānuṣu | padmotpalavimiśrāṇi sukhaśītajalāni ca ||

Translation

毗湿摩耶那说道：他们沿着山坡前行时，般度五子屡屡看见许多湖泊——莲花与青莲相间点缀——湖水清凉可喜。此景昭示他们林中流放里一段清净安宁的停顿：自然的恬静赐人歇息，也使心志沉稳，以备忍耐并守持正行。

Word by Word

• {'sarāṃsi': 'lakes, ponds (plural of saras)', 'bahuśaḥ': 'many times

• in many places', 'pārthāḥ': 'the sons of Pṛthā (Kuntī), i.e., the Pāṇḍavas', 'paśyantaḥ': 'seeing

• beholding (present participle, nominative plural)', 'śailasānuṣu': 'on mountain slopes/ridges (locative plural of śaila-sānu)', 'padma': 'lotus (often the red/pink lotus)', 'utpala': 'blue lotus / water-lily', 'vimiśrāṇi': 'mixed with

• adorned by', 'sukha': 'pleasant

• delightful', 'śīta': 'cool

• cold', 'jalāni': 'waters (plural of jala)'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pārthāḥ (Pāṇḍavas)
• sarāṃsi (lakes)
• śailasānu (mountain slopes)
• padma (lotus)
• utpala (water-lily)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, during hardship (forest exile), contact with serene and pure surroundings can restore composure. Such steadiness supports dharmic endurance—remaining balanced, restrained, and purposeful even when life is unsettled.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Pāṇḍavas, traveling along mountain slopes, repeatedly see many cool, pleasant lakes adorned with lotuses and water-lilies—an evocative travel-scene within their Vana Parva wanderings.