Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्या भारत शल्यपवके अन्तर्गत गदापवमें बलरामजीका आगमनविषयक चौंतीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Transliteration

tato mahātmā niyame sthitātmā puṇyeṣu tīrtheṣu vasūni rājan | dadau dvijebhyaḥ kratudakṣiṇāś ca yadūpravīro halabhṛt pratītaḥ ||

Translation

Sanjaya said: Then that great-souled Balarāma—steadfast in his vows and self-controlled—moved among the sacred pilgrimage-fords and, O King, gladly bestowed wealth upon the Brahmins, along with the sacrificial fees (dakṣiṇās). Thus the renowned plough-bearing hero, foremost of the Yadus, acted with serene satisfaction, upholding the ethical duty of generosity and ritual propriety even amid the wider turmoil of war.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नियमे: in observance/discipline
• नियमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितात्मा: one whose mind is steady
• स्थितात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुण्येषु: in holy (places)
• पुण्येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• तीर्थेषु: at sacred fords/pilgrimage places
• तीर्थेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• वसूनि: wealth, riches
• वसूनि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ददौ: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• द्विजेभ्यः: to the Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• क्रतु-दक्षिणाः: sacrificial fees (dakṣiṇās) of rites
• क्रतु-दक्षिणाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतुदक्षिणा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• यदु-प्रवीरः: the foremost hero among the Yadus
• यदु-प्रवीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदुप्रवीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हल-भृत्: the plough-bearer
• हल-भृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हलभृत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतीतः: pleased, satisfied
• प्रतीतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta) from √प्रि/√प्रती (to please/be satisfied) in sense 'pleased/approved'

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Balarama (Halabhrit)
• Yadu dynasty (Yadus)
• Brahmins (Dvijas)
• Tirthas (pilgrimage places)
• Kratu (sacrifice)
• Dakshina (sacrificial fees)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma through disciplined conduct (niyama) and generosity (dāna): a noble person maintains vows and supports sacred institutions by giving wealth and proper sacrificial fees to Brahmins, showing ethical steadiness even when the larger world is disturbed by conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the described events, Balarāma is portrayed traveling among holy tīrthas and, with a pleased and composed mind, distributing wealth and ritual honoraria to Brahmins—an interlude emphasizing his role as a righteous elder and renowned Yadu hero.