अभितः सो ऽथ कल्माषीं गङ्गाकूले परिभ्रमन् ॥
ब्राह्मणावसथं पुण्यम् आससाद महीपतिः ॥
तत्र नास्नातकः कश् चिन् न चासीद् अव्रती द्विजः ॥
तथैव नामहाभागः सो ऽपश्यत् संशितव्रतौ ॥
याजोपयाजौ ब्रह्मर्षी शाम्यन्तौ पृषतात्मजः ॥
संहिताध्ययने युक्तौ गोत्रतश् चापि काश्यपौ ॥
तारणे युक्तरूपौ तौ ब्राह्मणाव् ऋषिसत्तमौ ॥
स ताव् आमन्त्रयाम् आस सर्वकामैर् अतन्द्रितः ॥
abhitaḥ so 'tha kalmāṣīṃ gaṅgākūle paribhraman ||
brāhmaṇāvasathaṃ puṇyam āsasāda mahīpatiḥ ||
tatra nāsnātakaḥ kaś cin na cāsīd avratī dvijaḥ ||
tathaiva nāmahābhāgaḥ so 'paśyat saṃśitavratau ||
yājopayājau brahmarṣī śāmyantau pṛṣatātmajaḥ ||
saṃhitādhyayane yuktau gotrataś cāpi kāśyapau ||
tāraṇe yuktarūpau tau brāhmaṇāv ṛṣisattamau ||
sa tāv āmantrayām āsa sarvakāmair atandritaḥ ||
"Wandering along the bank of the Ganga near Kalmashi, the lord of the earth reached a holy brahman dwelling where there was not one who was not a snataka, nor any brahman without vows, nor anyone not great. There the son of Prishata saw two brahma-rishis strict in their vows, Yaja and Upayaja, at peace, engaged in the study of the samhitas, Kashyapas by gotra. Those two best of rishis, who by their bearing seemed fit for the accomplishment of the rite, he, untiring, began to court with every gift."
efb5bdb24247 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:19:51 PM UTC
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Here the king, having found no strength in weapons, seeks it among ascetics. It is telling that the holy dwelling is full of the perfected — all snatakas, all bound by vows, all great of soul: where the keepers of dharma gather, there spiritual power also dwells. Here is an acknowledgment of the superiority of austerity over the sword: what cannot be won by force is sought among men of prayer. Yet it is telling too what Drupada brings with him — gifts and calculation, seeking an instrument of vengeance. Thus the scripture shows that even a holy place may be approached with an impure motive; and Drupada's search, aimed at revenge, will darken the very act of turning to the ascetics.