Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

ता वयं सहिता: सर्वास्त्वित्सकाशे प्रजेश्वर । वत्स्यामो नियताहारास्तपश्चरणतत्परा:

Transliteration

tā vayaṁ sahitāḥ sarvāstvit-sakāśe prajeśvara | vatsyāmo niyatāhārāstapaś-caraṇa-tatparāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “All of us, united together, O lord of the people, will remain in your presence—restrained in our food and wholly devoted to the practice of austerity.”

Word by Word

ताःthose (women)

वयम्we

सहिताःtogether, united

सर्वाःall

त्वत्from you / than you

सकाशेin the presence, near

प्रजेश्वरO lord of creatures/subjects

वत्स्यामःwe shall dwell/live

नियताहाराःhaving regulated food/diet

तपश्चरणतत्पराःdevoted to the practice of austerities

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

prajeśvara (the king/lord addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic self-discipline: choosing regulated living (niyatāhāra) and committed austerity (tapaś-caraṇa) as an ethical response, emphasizing inner restraint and purposeful conduct under a rightful authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group (spoken of in the feminine plural) declares to the addressed ruler that they will stay near him together, adopting a restrained diet and dedicating themselves to ascetic observances—signaling a collective vow of disciplined living in the king’s presence.