Shloka 33

Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections

Devanagari script

विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु ब्रह्मर्षिभिरभिप्लुतम्‌ । अस्मिन्‌ खलु महाभागे शुभे तीर्थवरेडनघे

Transliteration

vikhyātaṃ triṣu lokeṣu brahmarṣibhir abhiplutam | asmin khalu mahābhāge śubhe tīrthavare 'naghe

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Diese heilige Stätte ist in den drei Welten berühmt und durch die Gegenwart und Heiligkeit der Brahmarṣis geweiht. Wahrlich, hier — an diesem glückverheißenden, ruhmreichen und höchsten Tīrtha — o Schuldlose — (ist seine Heiligkeit fest begründet).“

Word by Word

विख्यातम्well-known, renowned

त्रिषुin the three

लोकेषुworlds

ब्रह्मर्षिभिःby the Brahmarishis (divine seers)

अभिप्लुतम्frequented/visited; bathed in (by)

अस्मिन्in this

खलुindeed, surely

महाभागेin the greatly fortunate/illustrious (place/person)

शुभेin the auspicious (one/place)

तीर्थवरेin the best sacred ford/pilgrimage-place

अनघेin the sinless/pure (one/place)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Brahmarṣis

tri-loka (three worlds)

tīrtha (sacred pilgrimage place)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the dharmic value of tīrthas: places become spiritually potent through the tapas and presence of great sages, and their fame signifies a shared moral memory that links purification, reverence, and right conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a particular sacred tīrtha, emphasizing its universal renown across the three worlds and its sanctification by Brahmarṣis, as part of a broader account that highlights the importance of holy places and their merit.