Shloka 14

Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances

Devanagari script

मैत्रनक्षत्रयोगे सम सहित: सर्वयादवै: । आश्रयामास भोजस्तु दुर्योधनमरिंदम:,इसके बाद शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले कृतव्माने सम्पूर्ण यादवोंके साथ अनुराधानक्षत्रमें दुर्योधनका पक्ष ग्रहण किया

Transliteration

maitranakṣatrayoge sama sahitaḥ sarvayādavaiḥ | āśrayāmāsa bhojas tu duryodhanam ariṃdamaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Unter der Konjunktion der Mondstation Maitra (Anurādhā) wählte der Bhoja-Held—berühmt als Bezwinger der Feinde—zusammen mit allen Yādava, bei Duryodhana Zuflucht zu nehmen und sich so der Sache der Kaurava anzuschließen.

Word by Word

• मैत्र: in (the) Maitra (nakshatra)
• मैत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नक्षत्र: in the constellation
• नक्षत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• योगे: at the conjunction/auspicious time
• योगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सम्: together/with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• सहितः: accompanied (by)
• सहितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्व: by all
• सर्व: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• यादवैः: by/with the Yadavas
• यादवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आश्रयामास: took refuge in / resorted to / joined
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• भोजः: the Bhoja (king/hero)
• भोजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: indeed/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• दुर्योधनम्: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदमः: enemy-subduing (one)
• अरिंदमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Duryodhana
• Yādavas
• Bhoja (a Yādava/Bhoja chief)
• Maitra/Anurādhā nakṣatra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that choosing an alliance in wartime is a morally consequential act. Even when framed through auspicious timing (nakṣatra-yoga), the ethical burden remains: whom one supports can strengthen adharma or uphold dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that a Bhoja leader, accompanied by the Yādavas, formally aligns with Duryodhana during the Maitra/Anurādhā nakṣatra conjunction—indicating a decisive political shift toward the Kaurava side.