Shloka 136

Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative

Devanagari script

गर्गस्रोतो महातीर्थभाजगामैककुण्डली । उस गन्धर्वतीर्थसी चलकर एक कानमें कुण्डल धारण करनेवाले शत्रुदमन महाबाहु बलराम गर्गस्रोत नामक महातीर्थमें आये

Transliteration

gargasroto mahātīrthabhājagāmaikakuṇḍalī |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Wearing a single earring, the mighty-armed Balarāma—subduer of foes—journeyed on from the Gandharva tīrtha and came to the great sacred ford known as Gargasrota.

Word by Word

• गर्गस्रोतः: the (tirtha) named Gargasrota
• गर्गस्रोतः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्गस्रोतस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महातीर्थम्: the great sacred ford/pilgrimage-place
• महातीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भाजगाम: went, reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एककुण्डली: wearing a single earring
• एककुण्डली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एककुण्डलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Balarāma
• Gargasrota (tīrtha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the dharmic value of tīrtha-yātrā: turning toward sacred places as a means of purification and re-centering one’s conduct, especially in a world disturbed by conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Balarāma, identified by the distinctive mark of wearing a single earring and praised as mighty and foe-subduing, arrives at the great pilgrimage site called Gargasrota.