Shloka 36
Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
रत्नानि मुक्तामणिविद्रुमं चा- प्यग्रयं सुवर्ण रजतं सुशुद्धम् अयस्मयं ताम्रमयं च भाण्डं ददौ द्विजातिप्रवरेषु राम:,बलरामने श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंको सहस्रों दूध देनेवाली गौएँ दान कीं, जिन्हें सुन्दर वस्त्रोंसे सुसज्जित करके उनके सींगोंमें सोनेके पत्र जड़े गये थे। साथ ही उन्होंने अनेक देशोंमें उत्पन्न घोड़े, रथ और सुन्दर वेश-भूषावाले दास भी ब्राह्मणोंकी सेवामें अर्पित किये। इतना ही नहीं, बलरामने भाँति-भाँतिके रत्न, मोती, मणि, मूँगा, उत्तम सुवर्ण, विशुद्ध चाँदी तथा लोहे और ताँबेके बर्तन भी बाँटे थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
ratnāni muktāmaṇi-vidrumaṃ cāpy agryaṃ suvarṇa-rajataṃ suśuddham |
ayasmayaṃ tāmramayaṃ ca bhāṇḍaṃ dadau dvijāti-pravareṣu rāmaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Rāma (Balarāma) bestowed upon the foremost of the twice-born—eminent brāhmaṇas—precious treasures: gems, pearls, and coral, along with excellent gold and perfectly pure silver. He also distributed vessels made of iron and copper. In ethical tenor, the verse upholds dāna—generous giving to worthy recipients—presenting Balarāma’s largesse as a dharmic act that honors learning and priestly virtue even amid the turmoil of war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dāna as a dharmic duty: wealth is to be used for righteous purposes, especially honoring worthy brāhmaṇas and sustaining the moral-religious order. Generosity, purity of gifts, and proper recipients together create ethical merit.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Balarāma’s acts of lavish gifting: he distributes precious materials (gems, pearls, coral), refined gold and silver, and practical metal vessels (iron and copper) to eminent brāhmaṇas, portraying him as upholding dharma through munificence.