Shloka 18

Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana

Devanagari script

तत: फाल्गुनमासाद्य पञ्चाप्सरसमुत्तमम् । विष्णु: सन्निहितो यत्र स्‍नात्वास्पर्शद् गवायुतम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ phālgunam āsādya pañcāpsarasam uttamam viṣṇuḥ sannihito yatra snātvāsparśad gavāyutam

Translation

Next He reached Phālguna-tīrtha and bathed in the most sacred Pañcāpsarā Lake, where Lord Viṣṇu had manifested His direct presence. There He again gave away ten thousand cows in charity.

Synonyms

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/क्रमबोधक (from there/thereafter)

• फाल्गुनम्: Phālguna (place/region named Phālguna)
• फाल्गुनम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal reached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मास-नाम

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having reached/arrived at’

• पञ्च-अप्सरसम्: (the place) of five apsarases
• पञ्च-अप्सरसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: पञ्च अप्सरसः यस्मिन्/यत् = ‘(tīrtha) of five apsarases’

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of पञ्चाप्सरसम्

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सन्निहितः: present
• सन्निहितः: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+नि+धा (धातु) → सन्निहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘present/nearby’

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक (relative locative adverb) ‘where’

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• अस्पर्शत्: touched
• अस्पर्शत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग ‘आ-’ (आस्पर्शत्)

• गवायुतम्: ten thousand cows
• गवायुतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: गवाम् आयुतम् = ‘ten thousand cows’

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the benefit of bathing at a holy place (tīrtha-snāna)?

This verse highlights that at certain tīrthas where Viṣṇu is especially present, bathing is spiritually purifying and sanctifying, bestowing sacredness that can extend even to those one touches afterward.

Why is Lord Viṣṇu described as ‘especially present’ at Pañcāpsaras?

Śukadeva indicates that particular sacred places carry a special manifestation of the Lord’s presence (sannidhya), making worship and purification there especially potent.

How can a modern devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in daily life?

Seek purification through devotion—visit holy places when possible, keep sacred practices (like tīrtha remembrance and worship) and honor cows and other beings as recipients of sanctity through contact with spiritual life.